Is there anyone who doesn’t love Carrie Coon? Even better is when she’s paired up with her real-life husband, Tracy Letts. The two star in The Liberation, a psychological thriller by director and co-writer Guy Nattiv, based on real events involving his grandmother and a mysterious cult.
Set in the 1980s, The Liberation stars Coon as Rita, a Holocaust survivor struggling with her past, who falls under the sway of the charismatic Ricki, played by Lily James. Rita eventually abandons her husband, played by Letts, and family to join Ricki in an all-female commune for a fresh start. Bella Ramsey and Odessa Young play Rita’s daughters, who try to free their mother but are also lured by the cult.
The film is directed by Nattiv, who co-wrote the screenplay with Noa Berman-Herzberg. Nattiv is probably best known for directing Helen Mirren in 2023’s Golda.
The Liberation premiered at Telluride, before moving to TIFF and Middleburg where I managed to miss it both times. I won’t make that mistake again. The film opens in theaters on January 8th 2027 from Bleecker Street.
