'Passing' Stars And Director Rebecca Hall On The Complexity of Racial Identity

[@-Never-bored]

When my husband met my grandmother and her sisters for the first time he asked, “ Who are those white ladies?” I was so shocked and told him “ Don’t let them near you say that!” Although I knew they had “Passed” for fun growing up in Alabama. It’s one of those things that doesn’t really get discussed. My mom and her sisters worked at a “pass the paper bag test” place.Each subsequent generation of girls married darker and darker, I think it affected them somehow. All that goes hand in hand with the all of those color struck, good hair bad hair stuff that unfortunately still plagues the Black, Hispanic, Indian ........ communities.

[@kimberleyroberts113]

Colorism may be the term.

[@kfrancis1872]

My son asked who all of the white people were in the old family album I hadn't seen in years. I had to explain that only his 2x great grandmother was German, and everyone else "colored". He said, "Well they look white!" Couldn't argue. When my youngest graduated from college, his best friend on route to the restaurant after the ceremony asked why WE all looked how we look today. It took a minute to realize that we all basically look like Creoles and how to answer that tactfully. I think I did, but I always quote Q-Tip..."black is black." I really never see myself as anything other than black until someone says something. I look at a chocolate sister and see myself. But oftentimes she looks at me and is reminded of pain and separateness. What a mindf^$k was done on us.

[@jae6506]

@@kfrancis1872 Beautifully Said🙌🏾

[@backto-il9ne]

Ruth just oozes Irishness. She has that Irish poetic aura running through her veins. You can see it in how she articulates herself.

[@killboggins]

She's awesome

[@fmjs5146]

They are all so articulate and poetic about the characters and issues.

[@alexcamacho4880]

When are they going to make a Josephine Baker movie starring Ruth Negga? She’s the spitting image.

[@brittneybranch-chargois5858]

You are absolutely right, but I don't know if that will ever happen because there are already at least 2 Josephine Baker movies.

[@scroogemcduckrich9705]

yup

[@schristine159]

She looks more like Betty boop

[@AfricancoolChic]

@@schristine159 Isn't Betty boop a cartoon character

[@EzeICE]

@@AfricancoolChic Yes

[@AfricancoolChic]

Well done Rebecca, great to see her behind the lense. She was great in the Loop.

[@skywalker6648]

What "lense" are you looking through? That movie was terrible.

[@7barsofchocolate]

@@skywalker6648 stop hating. go outside. get some fresh air. touch some grass.

[@skywalker6648]

@@7barsofchocolate Truth hurts, eh? Maybe just take your own advice before trolling comments by others and get a grip, lol.

[@lexis4490]

More actresses should direct!

[@skywalker6648]

Not after you see this movie, lol.

[@nicollette4485]

The book was really good and teaches you what the history books don't. How can lighter skin black or mixed people make they're lives better in this time....."passing" as white. Very interesting.

[@Michael-xi9nb]

I love listening to Rebecca.

[@majortom4922]

me too，love her drama and moive

[@tanyatumbeva7279]

Larsen's novel is amazing and I'm so happy they're making it into a film. I can't wait to watch it!

[@barbarascott492]

Can't wait to see this film.

[@skywalker6648]

It's not worth the wait. More like a waste of time. Don't say I didn't warn you.

[@kazkazzie3906]

The lead actresses are very talented and beautiful. Great choice of actresses.

[@majortom4922]

Rebecca is so charming. In my chinese aesthetic, she is an absolute beauty.She also has a great accent. That sounds very comfortable

[@EzeICE]

British lass. ❤🌷

[@mikemichael777]

What's disappointing about this interview is that the actors aren't talking about the characters and people who lived in the time

[@moreafterthistime]

Realizing Rebecca Hall has been passing for American!!! Bring her to justice!!

[@iadorenewyork1]

Well, she says she is biracial. I didn't see that before, but now I can see it.

[@moreafterthistime]

@@iadorenewyork1 OMG!! Is this why she’s doing this film

[@georgegolden4322]

@@moreafterthistime Her mother's father is African American.

[@BelieverFirstwithSharonJoy]

Very excited for this film.

[@shadyws310]

I can identify with book , because I’ve been passing all my life.

[@ssm1052]

That's Interesting...Do you feel it was to your advantage or Disadvantage, and is there any guilt behind it?

[@julianmx13]

Damn, I thought Rebecca was American this whole time. She’s been passing a long time

[@AWordorNinety]

Rebecca Hall's own ancestry is part Black via her Mother's line. I believe her Grandfather passed.

[@jebiusenvy]

You have to consider this movie from a perspective from 100 years ago. A lot of passing people kept their hair short. They didn't have a biracial culture like we do today 100 years ago. Of course people were called mulatto and half caste, etc but you had to reflect that parent. Even in Alex Haley Queen he had Halle Berry play a character that was passing and by today's standards she wouldn't pass for white.

[@skywalker6648]

Actually, she only tried to pass for White for a very brief time in the mini-series.

[@MissJ2350]

@@skywalker6648 really? She still did it at a point and I bet that’s what they meant why nitpick

[@skywalker6648]

@@MissJ2350 Merely, stating an important fact. The only overly sensitive nitpicking troll is you. Even the op is not offended. So, get a life, lol.

[@MissJ2350]

@@skywalker6648 lmfao i called it out. Nice try tho

[@skywalker6648]

@@MissJ2350 Yeah, you are pretty funny when you're wrong and triggered at the same time, lol.

[@MsDizzleRox]

“How do you personally relate to this story?” Is probably one of my least favorite interview questions. This whole interview felt like a missed opportunity to delve into a reality/topic rarely discussed that was finally being highlighted with this film.

[@sheilagreenedartley9104]

What happened to this movie? Is it available to watch anywhere?

[@scroogemcduckrich9705]

coming out now

[@kimberleyroberts113]

Netflix Nov 10th

[@keikofay9804]

@@kimberleyroberts113 Yay, thank you!!!

[@mirmir4003]

I see a lot of interviews but no one is REALLY talking the racism within the movie. Especially for the 3 woman right there, non of them are fully black.

[@anthonygraham8122]

I wouldn't say fully black. But I would say they have certain skin toned privileges. Black is black. There's no getting around that or definition of it. But there are light skinned privileges etc that exist. Which is funny because the premise of the movie and its subject is based on one of those privileges. Passing. But I do agree with u in that they all dodged the big elephant in the room.

[@emguzzy7230]

Not the trailer

[@artisticanne3490]

What movie is this?

[@mkind7765]

What movie? Did you bother to listen to their statements or read the description?? Do you need assistance???

[@artisticanne3490]

@@mkind7765 nope. I was drunk while commenting on this

[@mkind7765]

@@artisticanne3490 🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@colors6692]

@@mkind7765 Why are you so aggressive to that person? Be loving and love everyone no matter what. Give your life for complete strangers over and over again💪🏿

[@mkind7765]

@@colors6692 Aggressive? For stating the obvious?? Maybe if we paid attention more, lame excuses would be to a minimum. Besides, I'm sure the topic at hand deserves a person to at least listen... unless there's cognitive issues or they just want to show no respect to the topic at hand.

[@aderoprescott4461]

Umm Tessa, sis you could definitely pass.

[@AfricancoolChic]

No she couldn't, not with those features, they are pretty features, pretty African.

[@bellacortez]

@@AfricancoolChic you'd be surprising how many white people have larger features. Don't be fooled by societies image of what a white woman should look like. Its not real

[@jebiusenvy]

@@AfricancoolChic 100 years ago she could.

[@BlueSkies7]

No. Tessa definitely could not pass even though she is light complected. Depending on Ruth's hairstyle and color and could probably pass but she looks more Asian or Latina. However, this is just my opinion.

[@AfricancoolChic]

@@BlueSkies7 Don't Latina people come in all races: white like Cameron Diaz and Christina Aguilera, black like Amara la Nigra and Zoe Saldana, mixed like Rosario Dawson and then Jlo etc... Latina isn't a race right?

[@skywalker6648]

Terrible movie.

[@ssm1052]

Really How so?

[@skywalker6648]

@@ssm1052 First, the story was poorly written and not the best acting. Also, It probably would have been more useful to focus on the character that was "passing", not the one that was too dark to pass but tried to anyway. Overall, a lot of things didn't make sense, never explained and too numerous to list. But one example is making Irene a character that passes for White. Yet, criticizes Claire for doing that. Like wtf? Another is that there was never a climax or point to the movie. So you are waiting for something to happen and it never does. Just a movie about a bored housewife and socialite Irene steady napping throughout the movie, then, pushing her husband to be with Claire. Then, getting jealous of it and doing something stupid in the end that makes no sense. What was good about any of this? Nothing. Plus, it was a bit unrealistic for the times with the annoying piano keys you hear in the trailer and every few minutes in the movie, ugh. So yes, it was a TERRIBLE MOVIE and a waste of my time.

[@ssm1052]

@@skywalker6648 please look at this interview, maybe give it some context....Black and white Makes the color gray, For these woman, their lives, are in gray area's Irene was passing, as having a happy marriage, and pretending her life was perfect, when she wasn't safe at all....Clair lived her life to the fullest, as if it was her last days on earth...This movie is not just about passing racially, it's about passing the Pain, and hurt...but here is the interview ok..maybe this will give it context.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4eTeomHrJ6di9U

[@skywalker6648]

@@ssm1052 Maybe in your mind, you saw some "context". But if you paid attention, there was no "context" to it all. That's another reason it was terrible, lol.

[@squatch545]

Who is Ruth Nigga?

[@feliciaevans3224]

That is not her name get it right ok Joe Smith