The Testament of Ann Lee
A young woman (Amanda Seyfried, "The Housemaid") in 18th century England, disenchanted with the Church of England, found her people when she attended a Quaker meeting with her brother William (Lewis Pullman, "Thunderbolts*") and niece Nancy (Viola Prettejohn, TV's 'The Nevers'), admiring their practice of public confessional. Her strong beliefs in equality and celibacy branded her a heretic and her husband Andrew (Christopher Abbott, 2025's "Wolf Man"), with whom she'd had and lost four children, placed her in an insane asylum where she experienced religious visions. When released she was recognized by the Quakers as the second coming of Christ, believing God must be both male and female, and she took a splinter group to the New World, founding the Shaker movement in "The Testament of Ann Lee."
Laura's Review: A-
A musical about religious fervor in the 18th century may not be high on many people's list but those open to the idea will experience a unique biopic, faith itself choreographed led by Seyfried's committed performance and Mona Fastvold's directorial precision. This is a meticulously crafted work, songwriter and composer Daniel Blumberg ("The Brutalist") adapting Shaker hymns into both songs and score while choreographer Celia Rowlson-Hall ("Vox Lux") worked with the cast on movements that appear both wildly individualistic and synchronized. Fastvold ("The World to Come"), who also cowrote the script with her husband and "The Brutalist" collaborator Brady Corbet, seamlessly weaves in and out of song and dance in what may be cinema's most organic musical.
The film is broken into three chapters, each announced on title cards resembling embroidered samplers, a Shaker Tree of Life centered on each. The begins in Manchester, England, during the years of 1758 to 1774, Ann's formative girlhood. Mary Partington (Thomasin McKenzie, "Leave No Trace," "Eileen"), who will become Ann's most loyal friend and follower, narrates her tale, telling us that she was special since the day of her birth - February 29, 1736. The second eldest of eight didn't have an easy life, the small child (Esmee Hewett at 6, Millie-Rose Crossley at 12) taking her brother William by the hand to work in a fabric mill, the girl already so devout she offers her labors up to God. But she recoils when she witnesses her parents having sexual relations, defiantly telling her father 'I saw what you did to her' and receiving lashes across the backs of her hands for the impertinence.
At her first Quaker meeting, Ann (now Seyfried) will draw the attention of James Wardley (Scott Handy, "Napoleon"), who, along with his wife Jane (Stacy Martin, "Nymphomaniac, Vol. 1") run the Quaker meetings in the home of wealthy benefactor John Hocknell (David Cale). Watching others physically expunge their sins, Ann throws herself into the group worship and catches another eye, that of the local blacksmith she will marry, who shares the religious pornography he claims to have found on his apprentice. Ann accepts light whipping of her buttocks as a prelude to intercourse but denies Andrew's demands to be 'taken by her mouth.' And it will be sexual sin that will be revealed to her as the obstacle to heaven when, delirious from lack of food and water in the asylum, she has her revelations, levitating. Fastvold inserts snake imagery as both phallic and Biblical symbolism. Finally freed, Ann, now dubbed Mother, begins to preach in earnest, leading a worship session for three days non-stop, noise complaints drawing the law. Presented to four Christchurch Bishops, she speaks in twelve languages, although some have said seventy-two tongues. Believing they have witnessed the power of God, they let her go.
The second act, Lee now a woman, sees Ann depart to establish a Shaker settlement in America with a new patron, Hocknell's brother-in-law John Townley (Jeremy Wheeler), and several followers. They are taunted by the ship's crew for their constant singing until the Shakers, as foretold by Ann to the ship's captain, save the condemned ship from a ferocious storm. But once in New York, where Ann's visions once again land them in safe harbor at Mrs. Cunningham's (Shannon Woodward, TV's 'Raising Hope') boarding house, sex causes schisms, Hocknell's son Richard (Jamie Bogyo) found copulating with Ann's niece. Both leave Mother Ann's movement, then Andrew revolts, demanding his wife resume sexual relations after years of denial, leaving her when she refuses. After these setbacks, the third chapter, Mother, covers Ann's life from 1774 through 1784 in Niskayuna in New York's Hudson Valley, where the Shaker life is established, William traveling to spread their gospel, recruiting new members. Everyone appears happy in their work, the spaces they create bright, minimal and clean. Ann, fond of saying 'There’s a place for everything and everything in its place,' is seen hand making the chairs the group is so well known for that they used for trade, their own hung up on chair rails when not in use.
But Fastvold will also remind us that this country founded on principles of religious freedom had those who would suppress it even in its earliest days, a horrific attack on the community leading to injuries and deaths, Ann Lee reverently laid to rest a year later at the age of 48. This may be Seyfried's best performance to date, her intense commitment to chastity and labor as a path to heaven softened with genuine love and understanding of others. The actress also masters the unusual period accent of Manchester along with leading a dance troupe and singing in a sweet, crystalline voice. The ensemble, which also includes Tim Blake Nelson as Pastor Reuben Wright, mesh beautifully into a community with a shared common goal. Supporting standouts include McKenzie, her reverent, somber narration allowing a little humor to trickle in; Pullman, whose devotion to his sister is heartfelt and Martin and Handy as Lee's mentors turned followers. Cinematographer William Rexer, shooting on 35mm and largely relying on natural light, gives the film a painterly sheen while also immersing us in the Shakers' worship as it flows from room to room.
"The Testament of Ann Lee" never recognizes that Mother Ann's beliefs would lead the Shakers to extinction until its closing credits, which note their shrinking population over the years. Fastvold's artful historical biopic should help preserve Ann Lee's legacy.
Robin's Review: B+
Ann Lee (Amanda Seyfried) was an early leader in the “Shaking Quaker” faith in England. Religious persecution forced her and her small flock to migrate to the colonies in America. They established the Shaker religion, celibate and celebrated with religious songs and near-spastic dance in “The Testament of Ann Lee.”
I love it when a movie based on historical fact comes along and tells a story that I did not know. That is exactly what director and co-writer Mona Fastvold (with Brady Corbet), and her star Seyfried, accomplish with Ann Lee’s story as a founder of the Shaker faith. The persecution she and her small flock endure in England because of their beliefs forces them to go to the New World for the freedom of faith and speech.
The small group of migrants makes the treacherous journey to America and land in New York. Their mentor and financier, John Hocknell (David Cale), leases a tract of land to the north on the Hudson River. Once there, the first Shaker community is formed and Ann – now Mother Ann and the new incarnation of a child of God, the new FEMALE messiah – sends her brother William (Lewis Pullman) to trod the land and recruit new members to the faith.
The Shakers, under Ann Lee’s guidance, promote egalitarianism, pacifism, a utopian lifestyle, celibacy and equality of the sexes, allowing for femme religious leaders, not just men. William helps grow the flock and, soon, they are a thriving, industrious community – just fervent and boisterous in their expression of faith.
Amanda Seyfried does a fine job portraying the ultra-religious Ann Lee. She conveys the dedication to her chosen faith, knowing that it will bring her divine redemption. I could sympathize with her dedication but, to me, any fanatical faith – which, as far as I am concerned, is all of them – is not my cup of tea. I have spent too many years pondering the existence of god so a Shaker I will never be.
Technically, on many levels, “The Testament of Ann Lee” is superbly crafted. The look of the film is captured well by cinematographer William Rexer and puts us in rural New York in the late 1700s. Other crafts, such as costume, set design, choreography, music and makeup – Seyfried’s aging is handled subtly and well – are all top rate.
I learned quite a bit about Ann Lee and the Shaker religion while watching “The Testament,” making me want to verify her story and its chronology – both of which the filmmakers follow faithfully. I learned something new about our world but I will not be singing and shaking in religious ecstasy any time soon.
Searchlight Pictures released "The Testament of Ann Lee" in select theaters on 12/25/25. It expands on 1/16/26 and 1/23/26, including a 70mm engagement at Brookline, MA's Coolidge Corner Theater on 1/16/26.
