Ryan Guzman Is Excited for the New Documentary ‘A Most Beautiful Thing’

The documentary A Most Beautiful Thing tells the story of the first all-black high school rowing team in America and will be released at select AMC Theaters July 17. 

A Most Beautiful Thing tells the story of a group of young men who attended Manley High School on Chicago’s West Side in the 1990s, bonding together and overcoming the odds. The film is narrated by rapper Common, produced by basketball stars Grant Hill and Dwyane Wade, and directed by Olympic rower Mary Mazzio. The score is composed by 9th Wonder. 

The documentary is based on the memoir Suga Water by Arshay Cooper, one of the team members and eventually captain of the first all-black high school rowing team. Cooper’s memoir will be republished Tuesday with the title A Most Beautiful Thing, and he will be discussing his book on YouTube Live Tuesday at 8 pm EST with Ron Stallworth, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Black Klansman.

“@arshaycooper is an incredible man with an incredible story,” wrote Guzman in a recent Instagram post. “Please join @flatiron_book live chat for a chance to get to know the man that created @amostbeautifulthing.”

Cooper’s passion lies in working with young people, and he has founded multiple rowing programs for low-income youth across the country. He continues to speak at events, drawing on his experiences with racism and gang violence when he was growing up in Chicago. 

Follow @arshaycooper and @amostbeauitfulthing on Instagram for updates and if you feel it’s safe to do so, plan to see the movie when it premieres in select theaters, next month. Remember to wear a mask and adhere to social distancing protocols if you choose to attend. Or, you can social distance at home and read Cooper’s memoir when it is released tomorrow, June 30.