THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE (DISNEY+) (2025)

SYNOPSIS: From award-winning writer-director Mona Fastvold (The World to Come, The Brutalist) comes the extraordinary true legend of Ann Lee, founder of the devotional sect known as the Shakers. Academy Award nominee® Amanda Seyfried stars as the Shaker's irrepressible leader, who preached gender and social equality and was revered by her followers. The Testament of Ann Lee captures the ecstasy and agony of her quest to build a utopia, featuring more than a dozen traditional Shaker hymns reimagined as rapturous movements with choreography by Celia Rowlson-Hall (Vox Lux) and original songs & score by Academy Award winner Daniel Blumberg (The Brutalist). 

MOVIE REVIEW:

To say The Testament of Ann Lee is a difficult watch would be an understatement. The more-than-two-hour biopic chronicles the rise of Ann Lee, the spiritual leader of the Shaker movement. Who exactly were the “Shaking Quakers,” and what was behind their chaotic musical sessions that combined singing, chanting, and erratic body movements?

The film traces the life of Ann Lee (Amanda Seyfried), who was born in Manchester, England, in 1736 to a poor and large family. After losing four children in infancy, Lee turns to religion in search of solace while members of her fellowship begin to believe she is the female Messiah. Supported by her secretly gay brother William (Lewis Pullman) and a wealthy farmer, Lee decides to leave England for New England to spread her gospel and establish a new community deep in the forest, away from persecution.

While audiences will certainly need patience to sit through The Testament of Ann Lee, the experience is largely rewarding and magnetic. Naturally, the drama does not shy away from portraying supposed holy visions and miracles, including one sequence in which the group survives a violent thunderstorm at sea without shipwrecking. It may feel excessive for more skeptical viewers, but the film succeeds in telling a story about faith and the desire to make a harsh and unforgiving world better.

Director and co-writer Mona Fastvold, alongside her Oscar-winning partner and co-writer Brady Corbet, also refuses to avoid delicate subject matter. Lee comes to believe that fornication is sinful, while her husband Abraham (Christopher Abbott) strongly disagrees, particularly as he indulges in early forms of sadomasochism. The film also features a graphic childbirth scene that may be disturbing for some viewers.

Still, the biopic has an unexpected surprise in store: it is also a musical. Featuring impeccable music by The Brutalist composer Daniel Blumberg and choreography by Celia Rowlson-Hall, the film’s musical sequences are often mesmerizing. The moaning and screaming can occasionally feel overwhelming, but the musical numbers themselves display remarkable rhythm, precision, and grace.

Amanda Seyfried is, in short, the heart and soul of Ann Lee. She becomes so immersed in the role that viewers may genuinely believe she is some sort of true messiah. Pullman delivers a subtle yet deeply impressive performance opposite Seyfried. New Zealand actress Thomasin McKenzie appears as Mary, the narrator and one of Lee’s closest followers, while Tim Blake Nelson plays a fellow pastor.

Despite being a lush period piece centered on fascinating subject matter, The Testament of Ann Lee is unlikely to become a major streaming hit, nor will it convert audiences into Shakers. However, for viewers curious about what Fastvold and Seyfried have created, this is certainly worth checking out. Keep an open mind, and you may discover not only a compelling slice of history, but also unexpected spiritual meaning.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee