How to Watch ‘Till‘ and All About the Heartbreaking True Story Behind It

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The new historical drama film Till hits theaters soon, which means you should get ready to feel your heart break. The film is based on the true story of activist Mamie Hill, whose 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, was brutally attacked and lynched in 1955. The film stars Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett, and Whoopi Goldberg and is directed by Nigerian filmmaker Chinonye Chukwu. Till is already getting the attention of critics for its writing and the cast’s incredible performances. Still, the movie’s premise proves that it’s one of the most important films of the year and a can’t-miss watch.

Here’s everything you need to know about Till and how to watch it.

Who Was Mamie Till?

Mamie Till was born in Mississippi in 1921, moving to Illinois as a child in the Great Migration, where she would meet her first husband, Louis Till. Louis was a charismatic amateur boxer, and despite Mamie’s parents’ misgivings, the pair married in 1940 when they were both 18 years old. Exactly nine months post-nuptials, the pair welcomed their son, Emmett. In 1942, the pair split up after Mamie learned that her husband had been unfaithful. Louis became violent and Mamie was granted a restraining order against him, which he violated repeatedly. In response, a judge told Louis he would either see jail time or enlist in the U.S. Army. He went on to join the army in 1943, and two years later, Mamie received news that her husband had been executed in Italy due to “willful misconduct.” Mamie’s investigations into the specifics of his killing were unfounded for nearly 10 years. She eventually learned the reason for his execution—he and an accomplice were accused of raping an Italian woman and were sentenced to death by hanging.

What Happened to Emmett Till?

In 1955, Mamie Till’s only son, Emmett, was sent to Money, Mississippi, to visit his family. On August 28, 1955, just one week after his arrival to the state, the 14-year-old boy was accused of whistling at a white woman in a grocery store, although the specifics of this interaction are highly disputed. Days later, Emmett was abducted from his home, tortured, and lynched—and still, his killers were acquitted.

Following his murder, Mamie insisted on holding an open-casket funeral, saying, “I wanted the world to see what they did to my baby.” Emmett’s body was seen not only by funeral attendees but also by the nation. Photographs of the brutally slain young boy circulated the country and the Till case became a key moment in the fight for civil rights in America.

Till follows the family’s story as the film takes viewers through the events that occurred on August 28, 1955, and after, through the trial of his killers, Roy Bryant and J. W. Milam. The main character of this film is Mamie, who continues to be remembered as a civil rights hero and the picture of bravery and motherhood.

Where Can I Watch Till?

Till is a story that deserves more than your attention—it deserves the big screen. Perhaps you’re a history buff, or perhaps this is the first you’re hearing about Emmett Till, a privilege in itself. Either way, this may just be the most important film you see this year.

Till is available in theaters starting on October 14 as a limited release and will then be given a wide release starting on October 28. That means if your theater doesn’t have it available right away, you might have to wait a bit for it to start showing the film. There’s no word on when it will be available on streaming, so right now, your best bet is to watch it in a theater.

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