The Liberation film explores cult recruitment through a female lens

Guy Nattiv’s film “The Liberation” explores the psychological complexities of womanhood and cult recruitment. Set in early-1980s New Jersey, the story follows Rita Cooper, a woman in her forties struggling with a monotonous life, depression, and the lingering weight of her identity as a Holocaust survivor.

Rita’s routine is disrupted by Ricki, an enigmatic and unsettling figure played by Lily James. Unlike traditional cult narratives that focus on male predators, the film depicts Ricki as a female cult leader who targets Rita through psychological manipulation and the promise of escape from societal expectations. The narrative weaves together Rita’s descent into the cult with her daughters' efforts to rescue her.