The Testament of Ann Lee

 

“Christ’s spirit first appeared as a man. But has reappeared to fulfil the promise of the Second Coming as a woman. Our Mother Ann.”

Transcendent, ethereal and esoteric, The Testament of Ann Lee faithfully embraces the true legend of the Shaker sect leader and her divine departures from orthodoxy, with a captivating Amanda Seyfried in a fully committed spirit as we see her proclaim the testament of a new vision and expression of belief, regardless of consequence.

Discussion Points:

The Shaker tradition (a spiritual and theological predecessor to today’s Pentecostal movement) emerged after the first Great Awakening and helped lay the groundwork for the Second. Whilst it desired to encourage an active faithful spiritual zeal in worship and lifestyle, its emphasis on personal revelation and ecstatic divine experience would lead to numerous subsequent movements that have deviated extensively from orthodoxy and created sects / cults that claim Christ, but that Christ would likely not claim. But it’s fascinating to see the origins of such a pivotal historical and spiritual movement as driven by its prophetess and messiah Ann Lee. Mona Fastvold directs, from a script written with husband Brady Corbet (the same team behind The Brutalist) a faithful exploration of the impact of a group of zealous sectarians determined to create Heaven on Earth. The result is a deeply spiritual and historically fascinating film that revers its subject but never ascribes to her gospel. Amanda Seyfried is truly transcendent as Mother Ann Lee, as she fully commits mind, body and soul to the Shaker leader’s expressive zeal, and the surrounding ensemble, particularly Lewis Pullman and Thomasin McKenzie, who similarly commit themselves to this religious revolution wholeheartedly. Add Daniel Blumberg’s masterful use of actual Shaker hymns throughout the film which also influence his eerie liturgical score and the frequent doxological sequences which are mesmerising and the result is a firmly unique and visionary musical approach to a fascinating religious zealot amidst the backdrop of historical revolution and awakening.