‘The Liberation’ Reveals New Trailer and Release Date
Guy Nattiv has built a reputation for powerful dramas based on real stories. He is best known for directing Helen Mirren in the 2023 film ‘Golda’, and his latest project is even more personal.
His new film, ‘The Liberation’, is inspired by real events from the life of his own grandmother, who joined a cult. Nattiv co-wrote the screenplay with Noa Berman-Herzberg.
Bleecker Street has now released the official trailer for ‘The Liberation’. The distributor teased the film with the tagline “Community comes at a cost,” highlighting Carrie Coon alongside Lily James, Tracy Letts, Bella Ramsey and Odessa Young.
The film opens in select theaters on January 8 before expanding nationwide on January 15. Images from the trailer focus closely on Coon’s face, hinting at the emotional weight of her performance.
Set in the 1980s, the story follows Rita Cooper, a Holocaust survivor played by Coon, who is struggling with her past. She falls under the influence of Ricki King, a charismatic leader played by James.
Community comes at a cost. Carrie Coon stars alongside Lily James, Tracy Letts, Bella Ramsey, and Odessa Young in THE LIBERATION. Coming to select theaters January 8 and nationwide January 15. #TheLiberation https://t.co/Lct4B7LFdS https://t.co/eWo2HU5vaM
— Bleecker Street (@bleeckerstfilms) November 2, 2026
Rita leaves her husband and family to join Ricki’s all-female commune, Harmonia, hoping for a fresh start. Letts plays her husband, who is left behind as she disappears into her new life. Rita’s daughters try to bring her home. Ramsey plays Ella Cooper, and Young plays Jo Cooper, the 2 sisters who set out to free their mother from the group.
Their rescue mission doesn’t go as planned. Once they arrive, both daughters find themselves pulled toward the commune as well, which raises the stakes for the whole family.
The cast also includes Siobhan Williams as Shine, Maia Michaels as Sheeva, Sharon Taylor as Anya, Nels Lennarson as Jeffrey, and John Cassini as Dr. Solomon. ‘The Liberation’ had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in September. It then screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Middleburg Film Festival.
Join stars Carrie Coon and Lily James with director Guy Nattiv for a special in-person Q&A screening of THE LIBERATION at Regal Union Square in NYC! Don’t miss the opportunity to experience this profoundly moving film on the big screen, featuring a breathtaking performance from Coon and an equally unforgettable turn from James. Hear from the artists themselves about bringing this beautiful, deeply human story to life. Get your ticket now! THE LIBERATION opens in select theaters January 8 and nationwide January 15. #TheLiberation https://t.co/fMAQlBKGoP
— Bleecker Street (@bleeckerstfilms) October 30, 2026
The early reception has been strong. The Hollywood Reporter called it a devastatingly empathetic cult drama, and critics have widely praised the central performances from Coon, Ramsey and James.
The film brings together a talented ensemble. Coon leads as a woman searching for healing after enormous trauma, while James takes a darker turn as the commune’s magnetic leader.
Ramsey and Young add a strong younger generation to the cast, and Letts brings his experience to the role of the husband trying to hold his family together. Together, they give the story an emotional range that goes beyond a typical cult thriller.
The film’s connection to Nattiv’s own family makes it stand out. By drawing on his grandmother’s experience, he puts a human face on the question of how people end up in such groups.
Making Rita a Holocaust survivor also adds another layer to the story. Her search for belonging and a new beginning gives the cult’s pull a painful and believable motivation. ‘The Liberation’ arrives in select theaters on January 8, followed by a nationwide release on January 15.
The early-year release gives audiences a chance to catch one of the festival season’s most talked-about dramas. For fans of Coon, Ramsey and James, the film looks like an intense character study that could linger long after the credits roll.
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