Review 781: The Testament of Ann Lee

The Testament of Ann Lee is like having a fever dream, a strange, sereal experience that's like an acid trip so exhaustingly bonkers, you'd have to be mad to see it - and that's why you should.

This is a musical (in effect, not genre). I wouldn't describe this film as a musical because the 

The film spans England and America in the 18th-century and follows the rise of spiritual leader Ann Lee (Amanda Seyfried) from factory worker to forge the radical religious movement that will become the Shakers. Haunted by the deaths of her four children in infancy yet driven by an unshakable belief in gender equality, communal living and ecstatic devotion, she gathers devoted followers who come to see her as the female embodiment of Christ. As persecution intensifies, Ann fights to protect both her followers and the ancient utopia they have begun to create.

I'll freely confess that I'd never heard of Ann Lee before seeing this film but it is truly a remarkable story that director Mona Fastvold has brought to the big screen. The Shakers lived their life in song; it was part of their worship.   As the supposed embodiment of the second coming of Christ, Lee took her message and her followers to America (or as they called it in those days, the New World) founding what would become the largest utopian society. She created this space, this safe heaven that didn't really exist for anybody. It was a space where people could live free from societal norms. She believed this was the way to help them find peace.

Further complicating matters is her husband Abraham (Christopher Abbott) who's into BDSM and oral sex  

We are presented with dance sequences where the convulsions of the Shaker service are almost akin to a sort of transy dance. The choreography is based on the physical representation of spiritual raptures which happens during the shaker service. It's astonishing.

The Testament of Ann Lee is one of those films you know is going to be an overwhelming experience and yet somehow you gotta see it, right?

there's terrific use of lighting and contrast to frame the shots, motivating the look by candle light or moonlight to give the film a mystical, evocative look. The score and songs by Daniel Blumberg are  the production design is all marvellous and a true feast for the eyes: 18th-century Manchester has a very murky and muddy look with lots of maximalism with cramped crowded conditions and muted colours. Once the film moves to New York, however, it takes on a whole new life. The shakers community village feels like a real, functioning, living, breathing village  

Amanda Seyfried has never been better in the role  she delivers a powerhouse performance. Ann Lee had the courage of her convictions 

Lewis Pullman (fresh off from playing Sentry in Marvel's Thunderbolts and whom you may also recognise from Apple TV+'s Lessons in Chemistry miniseries) also does fine work playing Ann's brother William 

Thomasin Mackenzie continues to show that she is one of the finest young actors of her generation playing  Ann's close friend Mary Partington who also acts as this films narrator, her soothing tones provide some beautiful insight and commentary into proceedings. 

3.5/5