Director Chinonye Chukwu brings
a mother’s fight for justice to the big screen
starring Danielle Deadwyler
Go behind the scenes with a powerful first look at
the true story of Emmett Till and Mamie Till Mobley
“Mamie was very aware and intentional about the power of the image.” – Chinonye Chukwu
Witness how a mother’s love galvanized a nation, sparking
worldwide activism and change.
featuring commentary from the cast including Danielle Deadwyler and Whoopi Goldberg, director Chinonye Chukwu, producer Keith Beauchamp, cousin of Emmett Till and co-founder of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation Deborah Watts,
and president of Orion Pictures Alana Mayo
See TILL only in theatres this October
– a statement from director, Chinonye Chukwu –
When I was approached to write and direct a story about Emmett Till, I found myself drawn to a singular figure at the center of his orbit. I saw an opportunity to subvert expectations and approach the narrative through another lens – from the maternal point of view of Mamie Till Mobley. Had it not been for Mamie, her son’s memory would have evaporated into thin air. She was the catalyst for a modern day civil rights movement that has laid a formidable framework for future activists and Freedom Fighters. I felt compelled to champion Mamie’s legacy and center her in the spotlight where she rightfully belongs.
Mamie’s untold story is one of resilience and courage in the face of adversity and unspeakable devastation. For me, the opportunity to focus the film on Mamie, a multi-faceted Black woman, and peel back the layers on this particular chapter in her life, was a tall order I accepted with deep respect and responsibility. On the daily, Mamie combatted racism, sexism, and misogyny, which was exponentially heightened in the wake of Emmett’s murder. Mamie did not cower. Instead, she evolved into a warrior for justice who helped me to understand and shape my own similar journey in activism. And as a filmmaker, showing Mamie in all her complex humanity was of utmost importance.
The crux of this story is not about the traumatic, physical violence inflicted upon Emmett – which is why I refused to depict such brutality in the film – but it is about Mamie’s remarkable journey in the aftermath. She is grounded by the love for her child, for at its core, TILL is a love story. Amidst the inherent pain and heartbreak, it was critical for me to ground their affection throughout the film. The cinematic language and tone of TILL were deeply rooted in the balance between loss in the absence of love; the inconsolable grief in the absence of joy; and the embrace of Black life alongside the heart wrenching loss of a child. I hope viewers will empathize with the humanities on screen and see our present cultural and political realities within this film. And I hope that Mamie’s story helps us all to realize the power within ourselves to continue to fight for the change we want to see in the world, just as she did.
| In Select Theaters October 14th Everywhere October 28th |
| Till is a profoundly emotional and cinematic film about the true story of Mamie Till Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, who, in 1955, was lynched while visiting his cousins in Mississippi. In Mamie’s poignant journey of grief turned to action, we see the universal power of a mother’s ability to change the world. |
| Directed by: Chinonye Chukwu Written by: Michael Reilly & Keith Beauchamp and Chinonye Chukwu Producers: Keith Beauchamp, p.g.a., Barbara Broccoli, p.g.a., Whoopi Goldberg, Thomas Levine, Michael Reilly and Frederick Zollo, p.g.a. Executive Producers: Preston Holmes, Chinonye Chukwu Cast: Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett, and Whoopi Goldberg |
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