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Daily Read: Cinema

Carrie Coon Shines in Guy Nattiv’s Cult Thriller ‘The Liberation’

Guy Nattiv’s debut feature, ‘The Liberation’, premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on September 4, 2026, running 125 minutes. The film follows Rita Cooper, a 40‑something New Jersey bank employee played by Carrie Coon, who is drawn into a female‑only cult led by Lily James’s enigmatic Ricki. Rita’s life is depicted in two timelines: her ordinary day job and her past as a Holocaust survivor in a video project, while the present shows her slowly succumbing to Ricki’s manipulative recruitment. The story, based on Nattiv’s grandmother and real cult survivors, explores female camaraderie, identity, and the psychological toll of cult involvement. Co‑written by Noa Berman Herzberg, the film is edited by Sabine Hoffman and Yuval Orr, with grainy cinematography by Fabian Gamper and Tudor Vladimir Panduru that evokes the early‑80s aesthetic. The climax centers on Rita’s daughter Jo, who is diabetic and endangered by the commune, forcing mother and sister to rescue her. Variety’s Tomris Laffly praises Coon’s dual portrayal of Rita’s domestic and commune selves, noting the film’s tense pacing and emotional depth.

· Variety

The essential points

  1. 01Carrie Coon delivers a nuanced performance as Rita, a bank worker who becomes a cult recruit
  2. 02Lily James portrays Ricki, a charismatic yet unnerving female cult leader who manipulates Rita
  3. 03The film interweaves two timelines, revealing Rita’s past as a Holocaust survivor and present in the commune
  4. 04The climax sees Rita’s diabetic daughter Jo in danger, prompting a desperate rescue effort
The full brief

Guy Nattiv’s debut feature, ‘The Liberation’, premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on September 4, 2026, running 125 minutes. The film follows Rita Cooper, a 40‑something New Jersey bank employee played by Carrie Coon, who is drawn into a female‑only cult led by Lily James’s enigmatic Ricki. Rita’s life is depicted in two timelines: her ordinary day job and her past as a Holocaust survivor in a video project, while the present shows her slowly succumbing to Ricki’s manipulative recruitment.

The story, based on Nattiv’s grandmother and real cult survivors, explores female camaraderie, identity, and the psychological toll of cult involvement. Co‑written by Noa Berman Herzberg, the film is edited by Sabine Hoffman and Yuval Orr, with grainy cinematography by Fabian Gamper and Tudor Vladimir Panduru that evokes the early‑80s aesthetic. The climax centers on Rita’s daughter Jo, who is diabetic and endangered by the commune, forcing mother and sister to rescue her.

Variety’s Tomris Laffly praises Coon’s dual portrayal of Rita’s domestic and commune selves, noting the film’s tense pacing and emotional depth.