--- title: "Passing: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/passing/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/passing" critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 24 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Passing (2021): what the critics said Critics' score 76 from 24 reviews: 17 positive, 6 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics respond warmly to Passing, with praise clustering around Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga’s performances and Rebecca Hall’s restrained direction. The leads’ chemistry, charged silences and careful expressions give the film’s treatment of racial identity, desire and envy much of its force. The black-and-white cinematography also draws consistent approval, often alongside Hall’s patient visual storytelling. For many reviewers, that restraint allows complicated feelings to emerge without spelling them out. The spread is wide, however, and the chief disagreement concerns how much the film’s reserve costs it emotionally. Some otherwise favourable reviews find the later stretches rushed or unfocused, while mixed assessments describe stiffness, chilliness and repetitive conflicts. Total Film admires the central chemistry but argues that the adaptation sidesteps the novel’s complex ideas. Sight and Sound offers the sharpest dissent, praising the acting, especially Negga, but finding the film stilted and emotionally flattened. ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 5/5. 1 February 2021. Calhoun calls the film a stunning investigation of race, sexuality and identity. He praises its treatment of these themes in Jazz Age Harlem. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/passing) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland Rating A-. 30 January 2021. Festival review. Erbland finds Hall’s adaptation beautiful, bruising, and compelling, praising it as a formidable debut. She especially singles out Thompson and Negga’s performances, with Thompson’s restrained intensity building to a searing effect. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/passing-review-tessa-thompson-ruth-negga-rebecca-hall-nella-larsen-1234612943/) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 9 November 2021. Brody praises the film as an emotionally resonant and stylistically refined adaptation. He singles out Hall’s visual approach and Tessa Thompson’s expressive performance, especially the way the film makes Irene’s gaze central. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/passing-reviewed-rebecca-halls-anguished-vision-of-black-identity) ## Variety — Jessica Kiang Rating Critic's Pick. 31 January 2021. Festival review. Kiang praises the film as an intimate, intelligent and compassionate directorial debut, finding its subtle story of envy and longing compelling. She especially singles out the performances of Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga, along with the luminous black-and-white cinematography. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/passing-review-rebecca-hall-1234896702/) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 26 October 2021. Chang finds the film a beautifully crafted, transfixing adaptation with subtle emotional and racial complexities. He especially praises Rebecca Hall’s visual direction and the precise performances of Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-10-26/passing-review-netflix-tessa-thompson-ruth-negga) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2021. Festival review. The critic finds the film thoughtful, provocative, and emotionally resonant. He singles out Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga’s exquisite performances as its pulsing emotional center. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/passing-film-review-sundance-2021-4125016/) ## Empire — Nikki Baughan Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2021. Baughan finds the film profound and satisfying, praising Rebecca Hall’s restrained direction and its refusal to overstate its themes. She especially singles out Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga’s performances and the charged silences between them. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/passing/) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 4/5. 28 October 2021. O’Sullivan finds the film intensely beautiful and strikingly relevant, though it loses focus toward the end. She especially praises the cinematography and performances, calling Hall and cinematographer Eduard Grau poets. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/passing-film-review-rebecca-hall-tessa-thompson-b962854.html) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 3/4/4. 29 October 2021. Jenkins finds the adaptation involving and emotionally moving, despite some conversations lacking intensity. He praises Ruth Negga’s portrayal of Clare and the film’s devastating climax. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/passing) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Rating 4/5. 28 October 2021. Bradshaw finds the film stylish, subtle and unsettling in its treatment of racial identity. He particularly praises the sensitive performances by Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga, along with the ravishing cinematography and production design. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/oct/28/passing-review-rebecca-hall-racial-identity-tessa-thompson-ruth-negga) ## Slant Magazine — Chris Barsanti Rating 3/4. 2 February 2021. Barsanti finds the film somber yet compassionate, with psychological nuance and room for ambiguity. He singles out Tessa Thompson’s graceful, finely balanced performance for praise. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/passing-review-rebecca-hall/) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2021. Festival review. Grierson is positive about Rebecca Hall’s directorial debut. He singles out Hall’s work as director, with the film set in 1929 Harlem. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/passing-sundance-review/5156683.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The review's verdict cannot be determined from the accessible page. No specific praise or complaint is visible in the supplied text. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/11/movies/passing-review.html) ## Radio Times — Ann Lee Rating 3/5. The review presents the film as an astute character study. It singles out Rebecca Hall’s handling of racial identity as thoughtful. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-qxxejw/passing/) ## Total Film — Rōgan Graham Rating 3/5. 31 January 2021. Festival review. The critic calls the film a stylish but shy accomplishment, finding its restrained approach too timid to engage fully with its source material. They praise the captivating chemistry between Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga, while faulting the film for sidestepping the novel’s complex ideas. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/passing-review-sundance-2021/) ## Sight and Sound — BFI Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 1 February 2021. Festival review. The critic finds the adaptation elegant and faithful but ultimately stilted and emotionally flattened. They praise the performances, especially Ruth Negga’s, while faulting the film for losing the novel’s fluidity and complexity. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/passing-rebecca-hall-adaptation-nella-larsen-adaptation-tessa-thompson-ruth-negga-performing-whiteness) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 11 November 2021. Kermode calls the film one of the finest of the year and praises its nuanced treatment of racial and queer identity. She singles out Ruth Negga’s performance and Rebecca Hall’s subtle visual choices for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/passing-2021-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) ## Digital Spy — Gabriella Geisinger Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2021. The critic calls the film harrowing, personal, and highly watchable. She especially praises Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga’s performances and Rebecca Hall’s precise direction. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a38207513/passing-review-netflix-tessa-thompson-ruth-negga/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B+. 1 February 2021. Festival review. Goldberg praises Hall’s confident, psychologically nuanced directorial debut. He singles out the patient visual storytelling and Tessa Thompson’s performance for drawing viewers into Irene’s insecurities and fears. [Read the review](https://collider.com/passing-review-rebecca-hall-tessa-thompson/) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Rating 8/10. 31 January 2021. Festival review. The critic finds the film a strong, simmering debut, though its ending feels rushed and diminishes its power. They praise Thompson and Negga’s performances and Hall’s subtle handling of the film’s tensions. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/579144/passing-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 November 2021. The critic praises the film as a subdued, riveting tour de force, though its plot can be tantalizingly obtuse. They single out the nuanced performances of Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga and the elegant black-and-white cinematography. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/passing-film-review-rebecca-hall-tessa-thompson-ruth-negga/) ## Paste — Jesse Hassenger Rating 6.8/10. 26 October 2021. Hassenger finds the film well-acted and formally elegant but ultimately strained and chilly. He praises the performances and visual style, while faulting the adaptation for narrowing into repetitive conflicts and an unconvincing climax. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/rebecca-hall/passing-review) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. Its praise or complaint cannot be verified from the available text. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/passing-rebecca-hall-review-sundance-20210131/) ## Deadline — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 31 January 2021. Festival review. McCarthy finds the film intriguing and unusual, but stiff, overly decorous, and sometimes inert. He praises its claustrophobic visual design and the performances of Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2021/01/passing-review-tessa-thompson-ruth-negga-sundance-film-festival-1234684141/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/passing.md