Rustin, directed by George C. Wolf (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom 2020) tells the story of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin (Colman Domingo), the gay civil rights activist who organised the group of 'angelic troublemakers' who planned the famous March on Washington in 1963 at which Martin Luther King Jr gave his 'I Have a Dream' speech.
Domingo gives a great performance for which he was Oscar nominated. His relationship with a Black preacher is sensitively portrayed and, though it is carried out clandestinely (given the social mores) normalises queer love accompanied by deep religious faith. When Rustin's 'homosexuality' becomes a problem for King (played by Aml Ameen) he is dropped like hotcakes but in a later scene when the homophobes go all out to destroy Rustin in order to scuttle the march, Dr King publicly gives his support, testifying to his moral character. It's a powerful lump in the throat moment as Rustin views it on TV and breaks up.
In an almost completely Black cast, Chris Rock is in a rare serious role as NAACP activist, Roy Wilkins. Jeffrey Wright gives outstanding support in the role of the unsupportive senator, Adam Clayton Powell. Because it's such a famous event you know the March is going to be a big success. Nonetheless you're still caught up in the high stakes involved and find yourself caught up in the elation of the moment as people pour in from all over the country to share in King's (and Rustin's) vision of a more inclusive America.
Domingo gives a great performance for which he was Oscar nominated. His relationship with a Black preacher is sensitively portrayed and, though it is carried out clandestinely (given the social mores) normalises queer love accompanied by deep religious faith. When Rustin's 'homosexuality' becomes a problem for King (played by Aml Ameen) he is dropped like hotcakes but in a later scene when the homophobes go all out to destroy Rustin in order to scuttle the march, Dr King publicly gives his support, testifying to his moral character. It's a powerful lump in the throat moment as Rustin views it on TV and breaks up.
In an almost completely Black cast, Chris Rock is in a rare serious role as NAACP activist, Roy Wilkins. Jeffrey Wright gives outstanding support in the role of the unsupportive senator, Adam Clayton Powell. Because it's such a famous event you know the March is going to be a big success. Nonetheless you're still caught up in the high stakes involved and find yourself caught up in the elation of the moment as people pour in from all over the country to share in King's (and Rustin's) vision of a more inclusive America.