Passing

Actress Rebecca Hall makes her directorial debut at the Sundance Film Festival with a beautiful black-and-white film, which manages to blur all the lines, especially when it comes to race. Referring to the novel by Nella Larsen, but also to the story of her own grandfather, who was considered white, she goes back to New York of the 1920s where two African American women lead completely different lives. Irene (Tessa Thompson) knows her place and limitations in society. Clare (Ruth Negga), widely regarded as white, enjoys the greater freedom of lighter skin - until she marries a biased man (Alexander Skarsgård). However, her freedom can be a burden and only when with Irene can Clare really be herself, although she doesn't support Irene’s life choices. Looking at each other with curiosity and sometimes even jealousy, Irene and Clare continue their strange friendship, trying to drown out the reports of daily violence.