In 1948, in Mobile, Alabama, a black man named Rayfield Davis is beaten to death by a white man who is not prosecuted. The crime is forgotten until 2012 when the investigation is revived by a Northeastern law student. Her discoveries lead to a shocking conclusion. Murder in Mobile is a film about race, murder, and one family's search for the truth 70 years later.

Interview with Director Adam Fischer and Producer Benjamin Bertsch

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

AF: Murder in Mobile was made to shine a spotlight on the historic and important work that's being done in the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project at Northeastern University. It was made to tell a story, a forgotten story, about a man who deserved justice, then and now.

BB: The film was made because this was a powerful story to tell. Being in-house film producers in the Communications department, it is our job to tell the stories of Northeastern University. To this endeavor, we created Northeastern Films as the vehicle for such stories.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

AF: Murder in Mobile tells a difficult story of race, murder, and one family’s search for the truth 70 years later. Unfortunately, this is just one of thousands of similar cases out there. This film is a reminder, as well as a tribute, to a man who was brave enough to stand up to racial inequality during the Jim Crow era.

BB: One watches a film I believe to be moved. To feel something. We designed this documentary so the audience would be moved by a murder that took place over 70 years ago.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

BB: The personal theme of Nichole not knowing about a relative who was murdered, in the very place she grew up, is interweaved with the universal theme of racism during the Jim Crow era.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

BB: Like all films, it was a process. We initially started filming the documentary by attempting to tell six different stories, but ultimately decided to go in depth and focus solely on the Rayfield Davis case. This was due to access.

AF: As Margaret Burnham says in the film, "Time erodes evidence." A lot of these cases have been passed over by time. As such, we thought we could tell the best, most complete story by following Nichole Ulmer and her family.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

AF: To date, Murder in Mobile has received an overwhelmingly positive response. We’re thrilled with the exposure and momentum that this film is gathering, spreading its message of resistance and restorative justice - hopefully in many film festivals around the world.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

AF: It’s an important and powerful story, and one we hope creates a lasting legacy for Mr Rayfield Davis and his family. We hope this film can help the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project uncover the truth on any of the remaining cold cases, connecting families to a past they are unaware of.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

BB: I think two key takeaways from the film could be: what does Horace Miller feel in his heart? And would he sit down to eat with Nichole?

Interview: June 2019

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Murder in Mobile

Length: 23:35

Director: Adam Fischer

Producer: Benjamin Bertsch

About the writer, director and producer:

ADAM FISCHER: I spent 12 years travelling the world, producing and directing a variety of shows and documentaries for television. In 2017, I relocated to Boston, specifically Northeastern University, for the opportunity to concentrate purely on documentary storytelling and shining a global spotlight on topics that deserve and demand our attention.

BENJAMIN BERTSCH: Benjamin is responsible for turning ideas into dynamic visual stories. After 14 years in Santa Monica running his own boutique production/post company – Benjamin and his wife decided to move back to their New England roots.

Key cast: Margaret Burnham, Rose Zoltek-Jick, Chelsea Schmitz, Nichole Ulmer

Looking for: distributors

Instagram: @northeasternfilms

Hashtags used: #MurderinMobile #Northeasternfilms

Other: News Northeastern

Made in association with: Northeastern University and the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Roxbury International Film Festival (Roxbury, MA) June 22@1230pm; Montgomery Film Festival (AL) July 20th; Melbourne Documentary Film Festival (AUS) July 25th@615pm; Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MA) August 5 – 10.