Rustin Review
Streaming Movie Review - Netflix - Biopic
As a white woman who grew up in predominantly white spaces, I knew very little about the March on Washington in 1963. I knew that it was well attended and that it was where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Beyond that, I wasn’t taught about it in school, and to my shame, I never looked up any information about it. So I had no idea about Bayard Rustin, one of the key organizers of this event. Director George C. Wolfe likely knows that his story is not well-known, and he explores that in his new film “Rustin,” currently streaming on Netflix.
Bayard Rustin (Colman Domingo) was a black, gay man in the midst of the civil rights movement. Because of his sexuality, Martin Luther King (Aml Ameen) distanced himself from Rustin, despite the fact that much of his non-violent rhetoric came from Rustin. As plans for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom were coming together, various leaders in the black community were struggling to know how to use Rustin. NAACP chairman Roy Wilkins (Chris Rock) did not want Rustin included in any kind of forward-facing role. Despite the obstacles that he faced due to his sexuality and his political leanings, Rustin was able to work with various organizations to bring 250,000 people together for one of the largest political rallies in American history.
While this is a textbook biopic, Domingo is an absolute powerhouse, elevating the whole movie. He brings so much passion to his performance that it electrifies every scene that he’s in. Given that the story hinges on his performance, he needed to nail it, and he did with a heartfelt, impassioned performance.
The supporting cast does a lovely job as well. Rock gives an understated performance as Roy Wilkins, struggling to figure out how to avoid making their situation more difficult while trying to bring about meaningful change. CCH Pounder does a wonderful job as Dr. Anna Hedgeman, the only black woman to be included in the planning committed for the March, working to make sure that women’s voices were included in the day’s event.
The movie does a good job of balancing the personal life of Bayard Rustin with his activism, showing how the two intertwined. I found myself engaged throughout the entire movie. Even though this is a by-the-numbers film, there is history here that is worth being explored.
One of the final shots of the film shows Bayard donning a garbage sack and helping other volunteers clean up following the rally. It is a beautiful reminder that service takes many forms. Some days it may be organizing an event that will help change the course of your country and some days it may be cleaning up trash. Regardless of our position, we can choose to serve everyone we meet in some capacity.
This review originally appeared in The Dominion Post on November 18, 2023.