Released 6 JANUARY
efore the film was seen, the need for its existence was called into question. ‘Another exhausted Hollywood depiction of Black suffering,’ the online chorus sang, as though stamping the truth of our history into the mainstream consciousness is somehow shameful. Directed by Chinonye Chukwu, who follows up her, is an expertly measured and respectful portrayal of the life of Mamie Till-Mobley after her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, was murdered by white supremacists. For those unfamiliar with the story, young Emmett was raised in Chicago by his single-mother, and in the Summer of 1955 was sent down to Mississippi to visit his cousins. After whistling at a white woman, Carolyn Bryant, he was dragged from his bed by John Bryant and JW Milam and, a few nights later, was lynched.