Festival premiere

Testament of Ann Lee is a gripping historical musical drama by Norwegian actress and director Mona Fastvold (co-writer of The Brutalist), which offers an original portrayal of the life of Ann Lee, the founder of the Shaker religious movement. In the title role, Amanda Seyfried delivers a standout performance widely regarded as one of the most acclaimed female acting achievements in recent years.

The film follows the journey of a woman marked by personal tragedy who, in the 18th century, becomes a charismatic spiritual leader. After a series of painful losses and visions, she begins to preach radical ideas of gender equality, communal living, and sexual abstinence. Together with her followers, she leaves England for America, where she attempts to build a utopian community based on faith, solidarity, and the rejection of violence.

However, Fastvold does not construct a traditional biographical portrait. Through expressive musical and dance sequences, she explores the boundary between spiritual enlightenment and fanaticism, between the liberating power of faith and the dangers of cult-like devotion. Ann Lee emerges as a visionary, a revolutionary figure, and a deeply contradictory leader whose legacy remains open to interpretation. The film stands out for its hypnotic visual style, its use of period Shaker hymns, and a powerful atmosphere of religious ecstasy.

The film had its world premiere in the main competition at the Venice IFF. It received particularly strong acclaim for Seyfried’s performance, which earned her nominations for both the Golden Globe and the Critics’ Choice Award.

Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Stacy Martin, Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott, Matthew Beard, Scott Handy

Distributor: Cinemart