'Till' Review: Moving Tale of Emmett Till's Mother Seeking Justice For Her Son's Murder
Till
PG-13: Thematic content involving racism, strong disturbing images, and racial slurs
Runtime: 2 Hours and 10 Minutes
Production Companies: Orion Pictures, Eon Productions, Frederick Zollo Productions, Whoop, Inc.
Distributor: United Artists Releasing
Director: Chinonye Chukwu
Writers: Michael Reilly, Keith Beauchamp, Chinonye Chukwu
Cast: Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett, Whoopi Goldberg
Release Date: October 14, 2022
In Theaters Only
Till is the true story of Mamie Till-Mobley’s courageous pursuit of justice after her son Emmett was lynched in the Jim Crow South of 1955 while visiting family in Mississippi. We see a mother’s ability to change the world in Mamie’s poignant journey of grief-turned-action.
Every Black person comes out of the womb with prerequisite knowledge of the Emmett Till story. Fourteen-year-old Till’s murder was a momentous event in civil rights history that Black children are informed of at a young age to convey the dangers of racism. When I heard that Chinonye Chukwu—whose debut prison drama feature Clemency made me go, “FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK” due to its rawness—was directing and co-writing Till, I was hesitant about watching it. I avoided seeing this film like a toddler refusing to eat their vegetables. The fact that a Black filmmaker had the courage and patience to make a movie about this tragic historical event is admirable, to say the least. Thankfully, Chukwu takes a thoughtful approach to her sophomore feature. Till is a rich character study of a grieving Black mother holding a mirror to America and its grotesque, racist reality.
Given how often Black audiences had to power through Black trauma flicks within the past several years, there is no way to enter Till without a sword and shield in hand. That said, Chinonye Chukwu finds a balance between depicting the harsh reality of racism and being mindful of her audience. The film’s first hour explores the loving relationship Emmett (Jalyn Hall) had with his caring mother, Mamie (Danielle Deadwyler). The dialogue they share is cheesy, but the natural chemistry between actors Deadwyler and Hall brings their dynamic to life.
The film expresses the dissonance between the Jim Crow laws in the north and south through Emmett’s innocence within a hateful environment that’s foreign to him. He’s properly depicted as an easy-going, free-spirited kid. Emmett is the personification of childhood innocence and Jalyn Hall’s lively performance is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking. The moment he enters Mississippi, your heart is held hostage. The film recounts the events beat by beat, even down to a wide shot of the barn where his murder took place, and it’s terrifying. However, Chukwu’s lens never alienates its audience with traumatic, gratuitous imagery for shock value. You only see his mutilated body because it’s an integral part of history.
Like Chinonye Chukwu’s previous film, Clemency, Till rests its weight on the shoulders of the lead, who must navigate a tumultuous time in her time. The news is relayed back to Mamie and as the narrative shifts lens, the shots are personalized to put the viewer in her shoes. Actress Danielle Deadwyler channels an unflinching portrayal of a mother seeking justice in every sense of the word. Her ability to express rage, anguish, and strength elevates the film’s story approach.
It goes without saying that the film nails every meticulous detail in its story while adding complexity to Mamie’s character. The team of screenwriters—including filmmaker Keith Beauchamp, who has spent decades researching Till’s case—prevented the story from hitting overly sentimental territory, keeping Mamie’s determination the central focus throughout. The story shifts from a heartbreaking civil rights drama to being a legal drama. While the beats are unpredictable, Deadwyler and Chukwu’s intimate direction keeps it strong.
Many prominent figures from Black history were present in the ‘50s working with the NAACP. The way that they’re presented in Till is weird. The film depicts them as this SHIELD-like agency with a representative guiding Mamie, explaining the situation to her as if she was in grade school. That moment plunged the film into, “This information is going to be featured on your next exam,” territory.
Chinonye Chukwu’s Till is a powerful and riveting biodrama that brings a thoughtful approach to its subject matter with integrity and love. With a breathtaking lead performance by Danielle Deadwyler and a balanced tone exploring grief and justice, this is a historical film that teachers need to show their students ASAP.
For the record, whenever I say a historical biodrama should be seen by kids, I mean it as a form of praise. I hope teachers show Till to their students because it’s a profound and accurate representation of the hate that still plagues this country. Everyone, no matter what color, needs to see this film and learn something from it. Learn about the brutality of racism, the civil rights movements, and white peoples’ complicity.
