“TILL”, Chinonye Chukwu”s newest film about the story of Emmett Till, is now playing in select theaters across the country. The film will be in theaters everywhere on October 28, 2022.
The film stars Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie Till-Mobley, Jalyn Hall as Emmett Till, Frankie Faison as John Carthan, Haley Bennett as Carolyn Bryant, and Whoopi Goldberg as Alma Carthan. Grammy Award® Winner Jazmine Sullivan penned the song “Stand Up” for the film. The song was co-written and produced by songwriter and record producer Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II.
Abel Korzeniowski was the composer, orchestrator, and conductor of “TILL the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack”. The soundtrack will be digitally released by Mercury Classics Soundtrack and Score on Friday, October 28th.
Audiences can purchase tickets for “TILL” here.
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 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.”
