‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ Review: Amanda Seyfried Shines in a Mesmerizing Spiritual Drama
Mona Fastvold’s The Testament of Ann Lee is emerging as one of the most daring films of the year — a bold, immersive portrait of Ann Lee, the visionary founder of the Shakers. Anchored by Amanda Seyfried’s extraordinary performance, the film blends biography, musical stylization and spiritual intensity into a singular cinematic experience that critics are already calling unforgettable.
A Radical, Interior Look at a Religious Icon
Unlike traditional biopics that observe historical figures from a distance, The Testament of Ann Lee plunges viewers directly into the inner world of Mother Ann. The film follows her journey from her birth in 1736 Manchester — a Leap Day arrival described as befitting a “miraculous person” — to becoming one of the most influential spiritual leaders in early America.
Fastvold rejects skepticism in favor of full emotional alignment with her protagonist. When Ann experiences visions, pain or divine ecstasy, the audience is placed inside her experience, rather than watching from the outside. It’s an unflinching commitment to subjectivity, and it pays off.
Amanda Seyfried’s Transformative Performance
Seyfried delivers what may be the most powerful performance of her career. Her portrayal is fierce, vulnerable and deeply physical — reflecting the Shakers’ iconic worship style of shaking, trembling and dancing to purge sin and draw closer to God.
Her Ann Lee is not presented as an eccentric or a zealot, but as a woman illuminated by conviction, embodying the Shaker belief that “Christ would return in the form of a woman.”
A Vision Realized With Complete Artistic Commitment
Fastvold, who co-wrote the screenplay with Brady Corbet, constructs the film almost as an initiation ritual. Viewers are invited to become participants rather than observers, pulled into scenes of communal singing, tight geometric choreography and wrenching confession.
The film also vividly contrasts the Shakers’ embodied spirituality with the cool rationalism of 18th-century religious culture. While contemporary movements like Methodism emphasized emotional piety, no other sect embraced such physical abandon and radical gender equality.
Visually and sonically, The Testament of Ann Lee is mesmerizing — a work that stands apart from typical historical dramas in both form and intent.
An Unforgettable Cinematic Experience
With its blend of history, mysticism and musical elements, The Testament of Ann Lee won’t be for every viewer. But its creative ambition, anchored by Seyfried’s brilliance, makes it one of the year’s most striking releases — and a film that rewards any audience willing to surrender to its vision. For more updates on films making waves this awards season, keep reading InvestRecords.com.
