The Testament of Ann Lee (2025)
Genre: History / Drama
Duration: 137 minuten
Country:
United Kingdom
Directed by: Mona Fastvold
Stars: Amanda Seyfried, Thomasin McKenzie and Lewis Pullman
IMDb score:
7,0 (2.855)
Releasedate: 25 December 2025
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
The Testament of Ann Lee plot
"The Earth will shake and tremble."
In eighteenth-century England, we follow the life and beliefs of Ann Lee. She founded the Shaker movement, a Christian community that embodied her dream of a utopian society. Her followers regarded Ann Lee as a female counterpart to Christ. During their intense religious gatherings, centered on music and dance, Shaker members entered a trance and engaged in vigorous physical movements.
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Actors and actresses
Ann Lee
William Lee
Mary Partington / Narrator
James Whittaker
Abraham Standerin
Nancy Lee
John Hocknell
Jane Wardly
James Wardley
John Townley
Reviews & comments
starbright boy (moderator films)
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- 22473 messages
- 5141 votes
Very special. Although it didn't quite grab me.
Imagine: You're trying to secure financing for a film about an influential 19th-century British evangelist who emigrated to America, featuring musical numbers composed of adaptations of religious songs from that era. Directed and written by people who consider themselves non-religious. That doesn't exactly sound like a high-profit investment.
But the film was made by Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold, the couple who stunned the film world a little over a year ago with The Brutalist. They usually write and direct together. I've seen all of Corbet's films, but this is the first Fastvold film I've seen (there are two before it). Thematically, it's in line with The Brutalist. It's about American values and is presented through a story about an immigrant who comes to the US historically. In this film, it's the relationship between religion, freedom, sexuality, and the pioneering spirit. The musical form is fascinating. The film sometimes moves through the story a bit too quickly and sometimes seems to rush through some sections. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think that's why the film captivated me, but wasn't as gripping as the three Brady Corbet films.
I saw it in 70mm, by the way. It gives it a certain extra vibrancy that you don't get with digital. Only Kino in Rotterdam is showing it in analog. I highly recommend that.
Translated from Dutch · View original
mrklm
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- 11629 messages
- 10041 votes
Biography of Ann Lee [Amanda Seyfried], who was born on February 29, 1936, and after a disastrous marriage found solace in a religious movement, where she became the spiritual leader and the new messiah. Aside from the inevitable ending, Fastvold allows all the important and captivating moments from Lee's eventful life to be recounted in voice-overs by Ann's niece [Thomasin McKenzie]. Instead, Fastvol fills 120 minutes with sex (with a touch of S&M), three childbirths, expressive dance, chanted mantras (set to horrific music), cat yowling, and related hysterical religious nonsense. Watching this monstrosity for 135 minutes is at least as bad as the torture Ann Lee endures.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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