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Holocaust Survivor Joins Woodland Cult in New Film
10 Oct
Summary
- Film depicts a Holocaust survivor joining a cult in the early 1980s.
- The story is a personal account inspired by the director's grandmother.
- Carrie Coon researched testimonies of Polish Holocaust survivors for her role.
In the early 1980s, Rita, a Holocaust survivor played by Carrie Coon, becomes entangled with a charismatic leader and an all-female woodland commune. This deeply personal story, "The Liberation," is inspired by writer-director Guy Nattiv's own grandmother and her experiences.
Nattiv shared that as a child, he witnessed his grandmother's involvement with what he now understands was a cult. He recounts the emotional toll it took on his family before he began seeking answers as an adult.
Coon immersed herself in research, studying testimonies from Yad Vashem and the Shoah Foundation, particularly those of Polish women. She focused on how trauma is held within the body and the resilience required for survival.
"The Liberation" is set to be released in the U.S. in January, with Bleecker Street distributing the film. The narrative explores the complex decision of leaving one's life behind to pursue self-salvation, highlighting bravery and the shock of such a choice.
