Israeli director Guy Nattiv brings Holocaust survivor family story to Toronto with ‘The Liberation’
The Israeli Oscar winner’s new thriller follows a Holocaust survivor drawn into a hedonistic women’s cult, with Carrie Coon, Bella Ramsey, Odessa Young and Lily James leading the cast; its Canadian premiere may follow a Telluride world debut
Israeli director Guy Nattiv is bringing his family history to the Toronto International Film Festival with the psychological thriller "The Liberation." The film is deeply rooted in Nattiv's own family story, as it centers around a Holocaust survivor inspired by his grandmother, Rita Cooper. Rita, played by Carrie Coon, is faced with a choice between leaving her family behind and joining a hedonistic women's cult that offers the promise of a new life.
Nattiv, who previously won the Academy Award for best live-action short film for "Skin," has assembled a high-profile cast for the project. Bella Ramsey and Odessa Young portray Rita's daughters, while Lily James plays the charismatic cult leader. Tracy Letts, Coon's real-life husband, plays her husband on screen. Originally titled "Harmony," the film is Nattiv's fourth major American-led project since moving away from Israel.
The Toronto Film Festival, known as an early indicator for Hollywood awards season, will see the premiere of "The Liberation" and feature several anticipated films, including "Being Heumann," a period drama about disability-rights activist Judy Heumann, and "Musk," a four-hour portrait of Elon Musk directed by Alex Gibney.
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