Till (2022) Review

In 1955, Emmett Till is murdered following a brutal lynching when he was in Mississippi visiting family from his home in Chicago Illinois. His mother Mamie will not stop until justice is brought to those who murdered her 14 year old son.

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The story of Emmett Till is nothing something I was aware of before watching the film, so everything was somewhat of a history lesson at the same time. We just don’t know about a lot of these American based historic stories in the UK. Although despite that, it was pretty clear what was going to happen from the opening scenes and going deeper into the film. Racism and white supremacy within the southern states is something that still feels so incredibly shocking and horrific.

Emmett Till, affectionally known as Bobo to his family and friends was a very happy young teen who didn’t really understand the dangers of heading to Mississippi to spend time with his cousins. He is confident in Chicago and has a good life with his mother who would do anything and everything for him. As well as his Grandmother Alma Carthan living close by.

It didn’t take long though for trouble to occur when Emmett was in a store (owned by white people) and crossed a line with Carolyn Bryant. Which felt so innocent but having to remember the awful standards of living at that time. He compares her to a movie star and then wolf whistles at her when she comes outside the door. Must to the utter shock of his cousins who cannot believe what he has just done. I mean whistling at women is truly awful anyway, but what would then follow was heartbreaking.

Thinking they had got away with it happening and did not need to tell their father, his cousins deciding to keep it a secret. A few nights later the Bryant’s turn up and hold them all at gunpoint to find Emmett and decide that they will teach him a lesson and take him from the house. We are then shown a scene where you can hear screams as he is tortured by the men. The trauma this would cause for everyone involved would be catastrophic. Mamie when finding out her son had been taken was getting ready to head south to help with the search, but the news that three days after he was taken the body was found and then the battle for his body to be sent home to Chicago.

The damage of the beating and eventual gun shot to the head, then the body being immersed in water made him unrecognisable as to how awful the corpse at become. This was when Mamie decided that she was actually going to put pressure on something being done about the crime of racial hate, against a child as well. Attempting to get press attention in Chicago and releasing images of how her son looked with an open casket and many people attending the funeral and seeing him lying like that.

The court case would follow which immediately felt utterly pointless, we all knew which direction this was going to head in. Twelve white men on the jury was only ever going to result in one verdict. However, the attention of the trial, the case and the events which led to the death of Emmett would actually help the civil rights movement that had already started in different states and go on to make a difference. Another emotional side was that different members of the family blamed themselves for the death, in wanting him to experience time with family and not keeping a closer eye on him which again was so utterly heartbreaking.

On the whole the film is so heartbreaking and the performance from Danielle Deadwyler is amazing, she is outstanding from start to finish. Really hitting the emotional trauma of a mother losing her child and not being able to do anything about it. Some of the scenes in which she screamed were haunting and to do that was incredible. Seeing Whoopi Goldberg back on the big screen again was really good as well, even though her role was small as a fan it was very welcomed. Frankie Faison was good support.