Rashaad Newsome’s Assembly is not just a documentary about a performance; it is a transformative experience that offers a glimpse into a vision of survival, healing, and Black queer futurity. The film captures Newsome’s multi-sensory performance at the Park Avenue Armory in March 2022, blending live performance, digital projection, and participatory workshops to explore themes of decolonization and community.
The core of Assembly lies in the collaborative effort of Newsome, the performers, collaborators, and the community surrounding the work. The film provides space for the performers to reflect and share their experiences, emphasizing that this is not just Newsome’s story but a collective narrative. Drawing parallels to Jennie Livingston’s Paris Is Burning, Assembly stands out as a work that actively engages in, builds, and preserves culture rather than observing from a distance.
Visually stunning, Assembly is a cinematic masterpiece that captures the essence of the performance with precision and intentionality. Cinematographer Johnny Symons skillfully navigates between intimate moments and grand spectacles, creating a sense of communion between the audience and the work itself. The inclusion of an AI character named “Being” adds a unique dimension to the film, serving as a guide and a reminder of the speculative and ritualistic nature of the performance.
One of the most poignant scenes in the film is a confrontation during a decolonization workshop, where a masked participant challenges the project and denounces the AI. This moment highlights the complexities of engagement and the tensions that can arise when different perspectives intersect. It also raises questions about the role of technology in the context of Black innovation and resistance, reframing the narrative around AI and projection as tools for survival and imagination.
Assembly refuses to explain itself or cater to external expectations, challenging viewers to listen and engage on their own terms. The film is a celebration of Blackness, queerness, and futurity in all its complexity, offering a spectrum of experiences and perspectives that make room for authenticity and self-expression. As Erica Alexander aptly puts it, “The past is painful, the present is precarious, but the future is free,” encapsulating the essence of Assembly as a work that imagines and creates a liberated future.
Assembly is more than just a film; it is a statement of intention, a testament to the power of care, authorship, and vision aligned. It represents a new paradigm in Black queer artistry, where access meets intention and where the future is not just imagined but actively constructed. Assembly is a transformative work that doesn’t just envision a better future—it brings it to life.
You can catch Assembly at the Maine International Film Festival in Waterville, Maine, on July 17, 2025, and at various locations worldwide. For more information on screening dates, visit the film’s website.
