The true story of Mamie Till-Mobley's relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, who was brutally lynched in 1955 while visiting his cousins in Mississippi.
Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Whoopi Goldberg, Haley Bennett, Jayme Lawson, Sean Patrick Thomas
Till is an emotional and dynamic film from Chinonye Chukwu, led by a powerhouse performance from Danielle Deadwyler that will leave audiences encouraged to spark a change in society.
From the very first scene in the film, director Chinonye Chukwu grips you into this tragic story through her subtle, but effective methods of filmmaking. The passion that she, and everyone involved in the production of this film comes across onscreen, the audience can truly feel the dedication and soul that was devoted to making this film as impactful and emotionally resonant as it possibly could be.
Danielle Deadwyler’s performance is one of the best of the year as Emmett Till’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. Without her incredibly powerful and anguished performance, it would’ve been impossible for this film to have had the effect that it did. Her work is remarkable in this film, as we see her character go from a rightfully angry, and vengeful mother who lost her son to blind hatred, to a woman who recognizes that she must not only fight for the justice of her son, but justice for all the African Americans whose lives were being taken by racists all over the country. Deadwyler is absolutely deserving of the Academy Award this year and I would not mind one bit if she got it.
Throughout the film, Chukwu lets the audience watch in silence as we see these characters in deep deep despair, for quite long takes on screen. It’s these moments where we watch these characters suffer emotionally that allows for the uplifting and hopeful moments later on in the film, where even though very small steps are taken towards justice and a better society, it’s clear that these characters have begun to make an impact.
Despite what starts off somewhat slow, the film finds its footing quickly as the viewer begins to see the changes that these characters go through after the harrowing experiences they face. This was nothing short of a powerful film, that will not only leave the audience educated about a dire moment in America's history, but inspired to push society forward for the better.
