Review of The Heart Wrenching Movie, ‘Till’

Based on the real-life story of Mamie Till Mobley, an educator and activist who dedicated her life to fighting for her son’s justice after he was brutally killed in 1955.

Unlike our other reviews which are all sunshine and rainbows, the movie Till is a heart-wrenching movie that is probably relatable to some people who have experienced some form of racism in the past or currently. 

Mamie Till Mobley popularly called May-May by her friends in the neighbourhood leaves with her 14-year-old son called Emmet or Bo as he was fondly called, with whom she had an intense bond (something common with all mothers) after the death of her husband who died in a war. They lived in Illinois, Chicago, where racism was also present but it was still manageable at the time. 

She was worried about letting her son visit his cousins for some weeks in Mississippi because racism was at its peak in the area. Probably thinking she was overbearing and wasn't letting the boy grow up, she let him leave (a decision she would never forgive herself for).

Unfortunately for Bo, he didn't think that his decision to talk to a white lady and whistle at her in admiration would result in him getting dragged out of his bed in the middle of the night. The news eventually got to his mother and it threw her entire world upside down and she sought help in different places to get her son back. 

Until one day, she was told that her son’s body was found in a river. Mamie became heartbroken and even in her despair had to fight to get her son’s body back to her. Despite his body being in the most heart-wrenching state, Mamie insisted that photos of him be taken and distributed across various news channels.

Mamie cries out for her son’s justice and despite all odds being against her she resiliently continues her fight. From calling out the politicians to opposing the justice system, she becomes an advocate for the justice of every black person in the country. 

Unfortunately, her son’s perpetrators walked free and were never prosecuted for his death. But the Emmett Till Anti-lynching Act was signed into law on March 29 2022, 67 years after his murder.

This movie was dedicated to the life and legacy of Mrs. Mamie Till-Mobley who acted as a voice for the weak, using her love for her son as a beacon of hope that one day. Racism would be but a horror story only told to the future generation but never witnessed it themselves.

It was directed by Chinonye Chukwu, a Nigerian American film director and it was co-produced by Whoopi Goldberg, who also happened to be one of the cast members.

Till is currently streaming on Prime Videos. Don’t start this movie without your box of tissues.