On this week’s episode, we will discuss the Netflix film adaptation of Nella Larsen’s 1929 novella “Passing,” directed by Rebecca Hall, which follows the story of Irene (played by Tessa Thompson), an upper middle class light skinned Black woman who reunites with a childhood friend Clare (played by Ruth Negga) who has been passing for white. Discussing how these women relate to one another as well as secondary character, we analyze how race, colorism, class, gender, and sexuality shape Larsen’s story and the choices Hall made in its adaptation. In closing, we ask questions about the effectiveness of the adaptation and consider the future of passing narratives.
