Till

Apologies.

This isn’t going to be my “usual” movie review. Instead, I’m just going to offer up a few thoughts/impressions/feelings.

I’m still raw from this one so bear with me.

Going in I was painfully aware of the story of Emmet Till so much so that within the first thirty seconds of seeing the Till trailer the first time I was already teary-eyed and choked with emotion. Barely made it through without full on crying. As a result, I simultaneously didn’t want/needed to see this film. I waffled back and forward on whether to see it at the movie theater or wait and watch at home right up until the movie started. Even then I wasn’t sure I could watch the full 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Not going to lie, Till is a difficult watch. It’s also important, even necessary to do so.

I cried on and off though the entire film. I was overcome with emotion to the point I had trouble breathing. I really wanted to walk out. I didn't though and I'm glad.

Till is a beautiful film, and it hits hard.

Afterwards I found myself needing repeatedly to sit with my “feels” on the way out of the theater. Even with that I still ended up having a much needed ugly/angry cry once I got home and took a shower.

Yeah, it’s that powerful of a film.

It’s also while I felt it important that I saw it in the theater in the first place and watch/experience every single frame of this film. Till is one of those rare films that will undoubtedly stick in my consciousness for some time to come. Perhaps even indefinitely.

Powerful.

Simply powerful.

Danielle Deadwyler delivers a masterful performance as Mamie Till-Morley.

Stories like this need to be told, seen, experienced, and supported. We as people let alone a country need to be reminded just how far we’ve come yet how little we’ve traveled.

I applaud everyone that endeavored to bring Till to the big screen. I also feel rating this one is inappropriate. Just watch this one, or at least try, be it at your local movie theater or when you can watch in the comfort of your own home.