Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga talk about new film, 'Passing' l GMA 

In love with the simplicity of the movie, it leaves so much open for interpretation

Theresa Thompson, your acting in that scene when you (as Rene) met Claire's husband for the first time, especially your laugh, was priceless. All of you did very well in that scene. Such a masterpiece!

Just finished watching. Ruth Negga is a phenomenal actress wow. She needs more recognition!

What a masterpiece of a movie! Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga are def top tier actresses 👍

Excellent film! The acting, cinematography, script, costuming, were stellar. The choice to tell the story in black and white, this symbolism added another layer of beauty of this work of art. If only more films of this caliber were made!

This movie was so amazing. Can’t wait to read the book. Tessa and Ruth were INCREDIBLE. And Rebecca knocked it out of the park! ❤️❤️❤️

Speaking of “passing”, look up a man who went by the name Korla Pandit who’s real name was John Roland Redd. He was a black man passing for an East Indian Entertainer to make it in Hollywood. His specialty was playing East Indian music on a Wurlitzer organ and he even had his own tv show starting in the late 1940’s. He was highly successful and married a white woman and had children and they never knew he was black until he confessed it to them which I think was on his deathbed. He would even sneak back to his hometown in St. Louis to visit his own family but when his own family would travel to see him perform they were instructed to have no contact with him. PBS has a documentary about it and it’s very good. How hard and sad it must be to live a “secret life” in between two worlds.

The life of a Black American in 1920's America. This is the real America that they don't want kids to know about. How will anything ever get better if we aren't allowed to discuss it TRUTHFULLY!

I love the language! Both women did an exceptional job with the English language of that time.

Ruth could read the phone book and you would be captivated.

I really like this film. It feels like a movie commercial for the book. I can't wait to read the book. And these two women are amazing in their roles.

I watched it more than one time to make I didn’t miss some important things I need to see, LOVE IT!!!❤️❤️❤️

The movie is so good I was hoping it never end

As someone said before. This is the 1920's, seeing those of mixed descent was very limited and often unusual. Could I see features that didnt seem Caucasian? Absolutely. I like to think of it this way. With transgender movie stars and so forth, there becomes more awareness, and that awareness opens up the possibility for 'looking' or 'spotting' certain features otherwise known as 'clocking.' If you look back at some transgender people in the early to mid 20th century, it was just so unheard of to change your sex, and a lot of them passed because we didnt examine them the way we do now with more awareness. I think the actresses were perfect, because it was meant to portray a sense of 'wanting' and going so far. We the viewer can see light skinned black woman and when we watch we view them, or specifically Clare as trying to mask herself, what other people in the film cannot see. So there is a parallel.

just finished watching, it requires a second viewing to catch the nuances that were missed. The black and white take a moment of adjustments. The background music seems modern but easily confused as periodic. The language and ideas in parts seem like an extract from a James Baldwin novel, effortlessly clear and clean but after all this, something seems missing.

Both actresses did an outstanding performance. ❤❤ 👏🏽👏🏽 Definitely a must watch!

Well worth seeing. A sensitive and challenging but visually exquisite film that tugs at emotions and empathy from the first shot.

The title itself is open to interpretation. It's a beautiful story.

The people in these comments don’t understand they weren’t biracial they were PASSING back then they were ignorant and people saw light skinned people as people who could pass some of them had European features these actresses were a perfect example…in MY opinion

Judging from some of the comments on this video, most people don't have a clue what qualifies as passing. Just because someone is biracial does not mean they "pass" in society. Passing involves denying ethnicity. From my understanding people like Rashida Jones, Vin Diesel and Maya Rudolph haven't denied their African American heritage. Rachel Dolezal is a classic example of passing as an African American. I've seen Rachel in plenty of interviews struggling to admit she's 100% white. Rumour has it that Elvis Presley's mother Gladys was of mixed race heritage. There was all kinds of drama regarding the racial identity of Johnny Cash's first wife Vivian Liberto.

This was one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time the cinematography was top tier

Such a great film! The story line and actors were amazing!

Rebecca Hall did an outstanding job directing this movie!👏🏽👍🏽This was an amazing story that truly depicted how most people are in denial in some form of their life. In one scene specifically, Tessa’s husband in the movie told her that he preferred her (Tessa) over Ruth’s character Claire and emphasized his foolery by telling her that he likes his women dark. Talk about a WTF moment!😵‍💫 Tessa is clearly not dark skin and that is probably what attracted him to her in the first place, but in his head since she is slightly darker than Ruth he has made himself believe that she is dark. #jackass

Yeah a conversation that should have been had I grew up in a family where my grandmother and her sisters passed and when one of her sons decide to marry a black woman no two of her sons decided to marry a darker woman the colorism that we had to go through in our family was traumatizing ! Smh the self-hatred

Irene was passing as straight.

This made me so sad :( great performances from everyone involved.

So weird that topic touched me on a personal level. I am half romani. One of my sisters doesn't pass. I pass in winter, two of my other sisters always pass. We all have very different experiences in society. Still relevant this topic.on some level. My father doesn't pass at all but has a wife who is blissfully ignorant and I heard her talking badly about romani in front of us all including my father. I remember my mother who was there too sending me a text message while his wife talked saying "don't say a word". I have no idea how he can live a life like that.

They were flawless in the their acting 🎭

Gotta hand it to this movie, it’s original. I wonder if Ruth Negga will win an Oscar for this? She’s unrecognisable.

Their mannerisms in the movie are similar in real life 😍❤️

Loved it. Felt I had a lot of questions leaving by it. Those thought provoking films stick with you.

Just finished this movie, it was absolutely beautiful I mean beautiful!!!!

Awesome movie! Great acting… deeper than the title. Will definitely get Oscar nods!!👏🏾👏🏾

Stunning! Would love more of this style!

I always though Rebecca Hall had an ‘ethnic’ look, so I wasn’t surprised there had been passing in her lineage. Fabulous contributions from everyone involved in the movie.

I think it's a work of very meaningful art

Instead of trying to suggest people who could be passing or not better than the actual person that was cast. How about appreciate the actual message that was presented.

Movie set on deep points gets you thinking and wanting more, Everyone pulled through both the western movie and passing deserve Oscars.

Great movie and it had the perfect actors!!

The concept of this movie 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾...I was disappointed in the story it was too criptic for me🙆🏾‍♀️...but I'm glad it was told🖤

That was one wild movie IMHO, and I mean that in the most complimentary way. Its sad that some people feel they need to go into a kind of self-imposed 'exile' from parts of their ethnic identity in order to obtain some semblance of prosperity and/or affluence.

So my take on this beautiful film is that both women coveted each others lives. Rene's desire to be "lively and beautiful" and Clare's to be stable and constant. So did her white husband push her out the window or did she?

Bravo. Loved it. Passion, love, reality.

Ruth Negga looks so much like Madonna in the 1980's. Wonderful movie!

I never knew that people had to reject their background like this in our country. What a sad reality. So glad these women brought this film to the screen to educate and help us empathize with the struggle of African Americans in our past. The delivery of the message was nuanced rather than clobbering. That is what we need more of. Talking TO each other rather than past each other. Not ignoring the reality but also not making it an "us" vs "them" issue.

I think Quincy Jones daughter could have played one of the women she looks more passing.

I’m really looking forward to this.

Can I just say... Tessa's voice makes me melt. The contrast of Charlotte Hale's character and this voice... Aye. Look forward to watching Passing

I adore these women so much 🌹

Great film loved it

This movie is sooo good! I call it an “onion movie”...many layers. It selves into another facet of black life.

I just wish the movie was in color. I think it would have made it more believable with her passing as white. But it’s a good movie

Wenthworth Miller, Maria Carey, Halsey , rashida jones all look full white but each has one black parent they definitely pass you Can’t tell

I loved seeing my life experience as a main stream film. Felt this in my soul- because our roots go so deep in America it’s painful. I really like the tea scene, that name even though she’s light and not knowing her ancestry, ect. The way Clare was happy being around her people. Being afraid if people in her life knew she was black she’d by shunned and worst. Ugh!

the film was really good i recommend people watch it and rate it 😁

Wow, Ruth Negga is not American. I just googled it and learned for the first time that she is Irish.

One of my favorite movies 😅both women were phenomenal. I don't have Netflix anymore so i came to RU-vid to see if it was for rent here

This movie was crazy good!

I loved this movie!!❤️❤️❤️

Wait I'm sorry is Ruth Negga fucking Irish and I am literally just learning this now? I've only ever seen her do an American accent. My mind is blown. (Also she's amazing.)

I think Imitation of Life was a better film that explored the issue of passing. I wished there would have been more dialogue in this film and more character development. I would like to have seen more adversaries in the film to present opposing sides of “passing” from an outsiders perspective. The cinematography and fashion was good but the overall movie is a no for me.

loved the film🤍

i can't tell my girlfriend that her best friend picked me up from work.

Love this movie

Excellent film. Alex Haley's Queen, starring Halle Berry, is another good examination of racial passing.

Bowy the movie was intense and deep.

Nither of these women could pass for white today or at any time in the past. Why not pick people you truly have to question whether they are black or white? Need an example of a black actress who could have passed but didn't? Freddi Washington.

how you people say someone is not white ? they are both races

From the beginning of the movie, I didn't understand because Clare clearly was a woman of color. When she was sitting in the restaurant, I was waiting for someone to tell her something. Maybe they could have chosen a woman with more European features to make it believable.

They are so educated

I'm sorry, but neither of these women would have had anyone fooled today or back in the day when "passing" was common. They both have a great level of ambiguity to their racial appearance; they look mixed without a doubt. It was kind of funny to watch not going to lie, lmao.

Love the film Ruth's face in the thumbnail 😂

I have not watched Passing yet but I have seen the trailer for it . I do know what passing is . I feel like some black people that was passing was very bold , and they felt like they had to do what they had to do in order to survive . I bet it was very hard for them to do that . I bet they had alot of fear they was gone get caught. They had to give up alot of there true self as a human being , they had to leave there black family behide . If I was alot of white people today in 2021 I would go take a DNA test and I bet alot of them will find out that they have black family members somewhere. I bet alot of those racist white people got alot of black family members as a matter of fact they got black DNA in them to . I went to school with these 2 white twins brothers and come to find out they are my blood cousins . Miss . Linda ❤

Excellent

But they can’t “pass” so why not cast actually mixed raced “passing” actresses?

Mixed queens! ❤️

When he SAID negga...it makes u pause😒

This is quite strange, she looks more white here than she actually does in the movie🤨

Irene doesn’t look white at all and Ruth is struggling

Neither of these 2 women would have been able to pass back then. They should have chosen different actresses.

The interviewer looks like his passing. It's all in his nose

Wow it really hits that he's off

I have a relative who's passed as black for decades

My last name is as funny as Negga my last name is White.And I did a millionaire he was a Republican and White and we could’ve been together but it would’ve meant that I had to give up my blackness even in my profile picture that you see on this I can get even lighter I can pass for something but I just couldn’t do it I did not want it not be in a black world I would die not being in a black world with my people because I just would’ve died it’s not worth the money it’s not worth it at. I was with my boyfriend for five years and that means going to expensive hotels the Ritz Carlton I’m always being the black woman there and it feels different when you have to be in white spaces and you’re black and you’re proud of your blackness I would always tipped employees the black employees better so it was very lonely I can identify with that movie so well it was the most loneliest time in my life I was sad money can only do so much ,I felt so lonely not being able to talk to someone who looks looked like me. Being in white spaces is so isolating and lonely you’re surrounded by luxury you’re surrounded by money and is the loneliest place to be . All you see is a white world. I did end the relationship because of that,But I didn’t the part with some wonderful departing gift screech and I did love this man absolutely he was good to me but I’m not white I’m black even if I can pass provocation at the end of the day I’m black, it’s me being black is a beautiful thing there’s something about us unless you’re black you wouldn’t understand it I can’t give that up I won’t give up that.

Honestly Tessa could never pass bad casting

MY KINDA PEOPLE 👱🏻‍♂️👩🏻‍🦰
My kinda people Are my kinda people Sharing the same culture, traditions and way of life My kinda people Will always be my kinda people And every kinda of people has that inherent right And it’s hard living among so many kinds ‘a people Speaking different languages, worshipping different deities It’s like waking up in a strange dreamland everyday Like somebody has stolen your natural-born identity My kinda people Are my kinda people Sharing the same culture, traditions and way of life My kinda people Will always be my kinda people And every kinda of people has that inherent right Now, the Melting Pot has become one giant incinerator For those of us with fair colored skin, European features And I often wonder how God in Heaven might be feeling His people dwelling among a plethora of godless creatures My kinda people Are my kinda people Sharing the same culture, traditions and way of life My kinda people Will always be my kinda people And every kinda of people has that inherent right My kinda people Are my kinda people Sharing the same culture, traditions and way of life My kinda people Will always be my kinda people And every kinda of people has that inherent right- Including those the skin color of wh?te! Copyright 2021, Renee La Chapelle

The only way they were able to past in those days and today. I's because for that particular culture it's only skin deep. it goes no further than that

troian bellisario is white presenting but these two ladies?😳

So let me get this straight last week we get a great all black cast (well somewhat) western now we have to “suffer” through this ridiculous film with two obvious black actresses Please Hollywood stop insulting our intelligence!!!

The director, Rebecca Hall, I believe her Grandmother is black. But she’s ‘’white’’.

I'll stick to the novel

Completely disagree without Tessa and Ruth!! Passing was about one thing economics and disowning Your blackness and the struggles and atrocities that happens to Black People…On top of Systematic Racism. In addition, white was always deemed better…NOT!! These two biracial women SO NOT SPEAK FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY!! PERIOD!!

I think my gf black

My

I didn’t like the movie at all. It was slow and boring. All the actors are really good actors but the director was not. Could have been better.

Very disappointed not worth Oscar buzz But I'm sure it will recieve the token door prize

Come on now

Not interested in this film or topic What’s the point And yes I agree the two women could/would never pass for Caucasian not then or now

Ruth who , boy watch out nah 🤣

Bad movie, losen scenes. Not a thing I will remember