The Testament of Ann Lee

As a founder of the Shaker movement, Ann Lee (Amanda Seyfried) was one of the most important religious figures in pre-Revolutionary America. Mona Fastvold’s powerful, complex third feature digs deep into Lee’s story, especially the profound childhood and early adult traumas that impacted her psychology and shaped her influential religious views.

Growing up in a large family, Lee was a child seemingly gifted at everything she tried, fiercely protective of her little brother and intensely devoted to her faith. As an adult, she met and married Abraham (Christopher Abbott), a fellow explorer of spirituality and ideas.

Lee’s tragic loss of all her children in infancy or early childhood, along with her radically unique interpretation of scripture, transformed her into a fierce advocate for a more equitable and utopian society. Her beliefs become a policy adopted by her devoted followers, whose frenzied, ecstatic worship — as Fastvold depicts it — almost serves as a communal substitute for sexual activity. The feverish ceremonies are inventively captured in musical numbers and original songs by Academy Award winner Daniel Blumberg, sung by Seyfried and cast.

The Shaker movement’s pacifism, its emphasis on simplicity in architecture, and its music and dances had a long-lasting, salutary impact on American culture. Ann Lee’s leadership and her adherents’ beliefs reverberate within contemporary culture and provide a distant reflection on our own choices.

Giving an intense performance, Seyfried leads a stellar cast, with impressive work by Abbott, veteran Tim Blake Nelson, and Lewis Pullman as Lee’s devoted brother. Aided by William Rexer’s stunning cinematography and an astounding score and soundscape, Fastvold offers a fascinating look at a compelling and complex figure.

ROBYN CITIZEN