PASSING, following former childhood friends Irene (Tessa Thompson) and Claire (Ruth Nega), two African-American women living very different lives in 1920s New York, highlights a number of interesting debates about being black in this period of American history. If you are lucky enough to be a lighter-skinned African American, do you choose to live a lie to improve your lot, constantly fearful of exposure? Do you educate your children on the struggles of being a black American early before they encounter prejudice in the real world? Why were white Americans so willing to enjoy black culture and yet so fervently hateful towards the people who created it? Rebecca Hall’s feature directorial debut comes from a very personal place, hits you hard on an emotional level and impresses with a simply elegant beauty. SSP