Releasing on October 14th, TILL recounts the true story of Mamie Till-Mobley’s search for justice for the lynching of her 14 year old son, Emmett Till. She became an educator and activist in the Civil Rights Movement after her son’s death in 1955. He was visiting cousins in Money, Mississippi. He whistled at a white woman (Carolyn Bryant) which is what led to his death at the hands of a white supremacist.
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… 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. I felt compelled to champion Mamie’s legacy and center her in the spotlight where she rightfully belongs.
Mamie’s Humanity
Mamie’s untold story is one of resilience and courage in the face of adversity and unspeakable devastation. The opportunity to focus the film on Mamie, a multi-faceted Black woman… 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… [she] 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.”
“… At its core, TILL is a love story.”
Courtesy of Orion Pictures
“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.”
Tone and Theme throughout “TILL”
“The cinematic language and tone of TILL was 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.”
Orion Pictures Presents
an EON Production / A Frederick Zollo Production
in Association with Whoop, Inc.
A Film by Chinonye Chukwu
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, Frederick Zollo, p.g.a.
Executive Producers: Preston Holmes, Chinonye Chukwu
Cast: Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett, and Whoopi Goldberg
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG-13 for thematic content involving racism, strong disturbing images and racial slurs
An Atlanta-based actress, model, writer, and screenwriter, Miranda started her career on stage in high school. She figured out that acting and writing were two passions of hers that allowed her to constructively express her emotions through character and narrative. In 2022, she packed up her cat and everything she owned to move across the US to Atlanta to further pursue opportunities in the entertainment industry. She is currently working on a novel and the screenplay adaptation for the novel, and enjoys designing graphics.
