United Artists Releasing and Orion Pictures have revealed the trailer and poster for Till, which will be opening in select theaters on October 14 and expanding on October 28. From director Chinonye Chukwu (Clemency) comes the true story of Emmett Till and Mamie Till Mobley and a mother’s fight for justice.
Till will make its world premiere at the 60th New York Film Festival on opening weekend. The 60th New York Film Festival, presented by Film at Lincoln Center, will take place September 30 – October 16, presented by Film at Lincoln Center.
Till stars Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie Till Mobley and Jalyn Hall as Emmett Till. The film also features Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett, and Whoopi Goldberg.
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. The movie was written by Michael Reilly & Keith Beauchamp, and Chinonye Chukwu.
The producers are Keith Beauchamp, Barbara Broccoli, Whoopi Goldberg, Thomas Levine, Michael Reilly, and Frederick Zollo. The executive producers include Preston Holmes and 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,” said director Chinonye Chukwu.”
“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.”
Chukwu continued: “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.”
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills to cover the latest streaming, movie, TV, and game news.