Emanuel: Movie Review

Clementa C. Pinckney (41)
Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd (54)
Susie Jackson (87)
Ethel Lee Lance (70)
Depayne Middleton-Doctor (49)
Tywanza Sanders (26)
Daniel L. Simmons (74)
Sharonda Coleman-Singleton (45)
Myra Thompson (59)

You would do well to remember these names. They are the Emanuel Nine.

Their tragic deaths during the 2015 Charleston church shooting are the subject of a new documentary, simply titled Emanuel.

Director Brian Ivie’s powerful and timely film recounts the brutal murder of these precious African-American churchgoers by a young white supremacist, who open fired on their prayer meeting. It also reveals what happened after all of the news crews left. In Emanuel, you'll find never-before-seen intimate and moving interviews with survivors and victims' families.

At the soul of Emanuel is a story of faith and forgiveness. Not all who lost loved ones that day found it in their hearts to forgive. But, a few strong voices forgave the shooter just days after the killings. Even as he sits on death row at Terre Haute Federal Prison in Indiana, convicted of his horrific crime, they forgive him still.

From executive producers Stephen Curry and Viola Davis, and co-producer Mariska Hargitay, this significant documentary spotlights the healing power of forgiveness as we rightly remember the Emanuel Nine. It is a must-see movie -- whether you're a believer or not.

Emanuel will show in theaters across the U.S. for two nights only -- June 17 and 19, 2019. For ticket information, go to emanuelmovie.com.