Mona Fastvold’s The Testament of Ann Lee reimagines a chapter of American religious history through a bold, visceral lens.
The film stars Amanda Seyfried as Ann Lee, the charismatic 18th-century English immigrant who founded the Shakers, a radical Christian sect known for its ecstatic worship, gender equality, communal living, and rejection of physical intimacy.
The ensemble cast also includes Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott, and Stacy Martin.
The Testament of Ann Lee made its world premiere at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, then went on to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival, and the Chicago International Film Festival, among others.
The musical drama opened in U.S. theaters on December 25, 2025, presented in 70mm, before expanding widely on January 23, 2026; it’s also scheduled for release in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2026.
The Testament of Ann Lee chronicles the remarkable life of Ann Lee, born in Manchester, England, in the 18th century and later revered by followers as a female incarnation of Christ. Faced with poverty, loss, and religious persecution, Lee becomes a spiritual leader whose visions and teachings inspire a devoted and deeply unconventional religious community. With choreography rooted in ecstatic worship and an evocative score based on traditional Shaker hymns and original compositions by Daniel Blumberg, the film blends historical drama with musical elements to capture both the ecstatic highs and the wrenching hardships of Lee’s quest to build a utopian society in America.
Mona Fastvold has described The Testament of Ann Lee as a deeply personal and daring interpretation of a figure who defies easy categorization. In an interview with RogertEbert.com Mona said, “What is fascinating to me about Ann Lee, the way I interpret her character, is that she is egoless. Her faith, what drives her, is a desperate desire to create a different type of community for others. It’s not about her becoming a famous religious leader, with her saying, “This is the law. You must follow me. This is the only way, and you have to be part of this.”
Early reviews have been robustly positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, The Testament of Ann Lee holds an 89% Tomatometer score, with critics praising the film’s originality, emotional intensity, and Amanda Seyfried’s performance, widely considered one of her best.
Watch the official trailer for The Testament of Ann Lee above.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.