6. Graham Court
A pivotal scene in Passing takes place inside an apartment at Graham Court, a pre-war courtyard apartment building in Harlem that is similar in design to the Belnord and the Apthorp. All three were real estate ventures by the Astor family, and Graham Court was the first to be built. The Belnord meanwhile was recently the star filming location in Only Murders in the Building a new hit series on Hulu.
The interior of the apartment unit is also filmed at Graham Court, but the shot of the guests going up the staircase was filmed at the Center for Brooklyn History. Nora says, “I had a photo of [Graham Court] from a hundred years ago, and the courtyard literally looks exactly the same in this photo, even to the light posts, I feel like that building was sort of calling to us. It’s an incredible building full of beautiful, beautiful apartments and Felise’s apartment was so fun to work in because it’s almost completely unclear who is where because there’s a foyer and then there’s a living room, and another room and another room and it’s all sort of in a circle in real life but you can’t really tell.”
While watching Passing, keep an eye out also for the interior décor of the spaces, how Irene’s house feels lived in, homey and cared for, while the hotel room has an Art Deco theme — flashy and new. Nora makes use of texture and reflections, all to tell the story of the two women.
Watch Passing on Netflix today. Next, check out the filming locations for Only Murders in the Building.
