It's a narrowly focused biopic on Bayard Rustin's (Colman Domingo) lead role in planning the famous 1963 March of Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The film opens with scant background about the Civil Rights movement, Rustin's friendship with Martin Luther King Jr. (Aml Ameen), and the subsequent temporary break in their relationship in 1960 when rumors surface about a possible sexual relationship because of Rustin's known homosexuality.

The bulk of the movie then shifts to Rustin's drive in 1963 to make the March on Washington happen despite the resistance of some Civil Rights leaders like Roy Wilkins (Chris Rock) and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (Jeffrey Wright). "Rustin" also highlights the complexities caused in that era because of Rustin's relationships with his assistant, Tom Kahn (Gus Halper), and a married minister, Elias Taylor (Johnny Ramey). Many prominent Civil Rights and union leaders appear briefly as characters in the film.

"Rustin" is a brave attempt to honor an often-forgotten Civil Rights leader. Colman Domingo is excellent. He portrays a gifted, extroverted organizer who is unapologetic about his sexuality but recognizes the danger his orientation presents to the movement. Ameen, Rock, and Wright are also good in their roles, as is CCH Pounder as labor organizer Anna Hedgeman.

"Rustin" begs for more background on why Rustin was so important to Martin Luther King Jr. Rustin, a Quaker pacifist, had an enormous impact on King's emerging philosophy of non-violent resistance. This impact is inadequately addressed. Also, more history on Rustin's philosophical development, marginally hinted at in a few flashbacks, would have strengthened the story.

Nonetheless, "Rustin" is worth an evening's watch.

Colman Domingo is pretty good as the eponymous, gay, civil rights organiser who not only had the problems of his colour, but of his fairly open sexuality to deal with as he tries to organise a massive march to the American Capitol. The goal of the march is to keep the pressure on the Kennedy administration's promises to end segregation - but there are plenty from within his own camp who would happily do without Bayard Rustin. I knew nothing about this man, and Domingo's energetic and charismatic performance goes some way to demonstrating just how hard he worked to fight internal squabbles - largely with Chris Rock's Roy Wilkins and Jeffrey Wright's Congressman Powell - as well as raise cash, galvanise the teams securing everything from tables to buses, and deal with the Washington authorities who were never exactly co-operative. It's a personal story which doesn't shy away from his relationships with Gus Halper's Tom and latterly with a man who has rather more to be discreet about. Occasionally violent but not graphic, it's clear this was a man who was passionate about many things, even when being homosexual was almost as toxic for him as his colour! The conclusion is the stuff of American history, so we always know what happens - it's the journey of a man determined through sheer force of personality to achieve his aims that's the focus here, and I think it works rather well.

I had no idea who Bayard Rustin was before this 2023 historical film, but now I know he was the primary orchestrator of the 1963 March on Washington, a peaceful protest attended by over 250,000 people and made mythic by Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Aml Ameen does a fine job capturing King's quiet assurance and fiery rhetoric, but the film is elevated by Colman Domingo's galvanizing performance in the title role. His fearless turn brings heart and soul to an essential figure in the civil rights movement hidden away because of not only his previous Communist ties but his openness as a gay man years before Stonewall. Directed by George C. Wolfe, the film itself is not quite as strong as Domingo's work because the multitude of key players flattens the storyline somewhat and makes even the march Itself feel a bit episodic. At the same time, Wolfe doesn't overreach by making this a full blown biography and smartly focuses on two incidents prior to the planning of the unprecedented protest. For that key reason as well as Domingo, the movie is essential viewing.