Mona Fastvold’s The Testament of Ann Lee begins with a profound sense of reverence, drawing us into a world already alive with devotion. The film beautifully captures this inner energy with sincere conviction. From the very start, Fastvold makes it clear that this isn’t just a typical biographical musical, but a heartfelt piece driven by the passionate spirit of its subject. The scope is truly grand, and the film’s dedication to this grand vision gives it a unique and compelling weight.
Amanda Seyfried’s performance grounds the film with a commanding presence that captures every gesture’s depth. Her Ann Lee moves through the frame with a charged stillness, conveying a mind immersed in the divine amidst a world in turmoil. Seyfried’s work becomes the heartbeat of the film, and Fastvold skillfully tunes every element to its rhythm. The result is a portrait that feels both intensely personal and awe-inspiringly grand, a blend that elevates the film even as its structure wavers.
Fastvold and co‑writer Brady Corbet craft a compelling portrait of Ann’s life, resembling a heartfelt appeal to potential converts. The film draws the audience into the intimate world of the Shakers, immersing viewers completely and creating a thrilling yet disorienting experience. This immersive approach delivers moments of startling immediacy, although it sometimes limits the emotional spectrum by emphasizing Ann’s sanctity and shielding her human complexity from view.
The film’s most electrifying moments are embedded in its musical sequences. Shaker worship—marked by spirals, stamping, and surrender—evokes a unique cinematic language. Fastvold skillfully employs repetition, trance-like rhythms, and communal breath, creating a mesmerizing experience. While the focus on inner states sometimes risks deflating the dramatic tension, the compelling movement and music inevitably reignite the story’s energy whenever it begins to waver.
The film confronts Ann’s early trauma and her lifelong aversion to sex with raw, unflinching honesty. Fastvold avoids sensationalism, instead depicting these experiences as the intense crucible that shapes Ann’s spiritual beliefs. The deliberate restraint is striking, though at times the reverence for these moments softens their impact, missing opportunities for sharper emotional contrast that could have made them even more powerful.
Thomasin McKenzie’s portrayal of Mary, the narrator and Ann’s closest confidante, adds a compelling layer to the film’s richness. Her voiceover gently fades into the background, letting the visuals and music take center stage, yet her subtle presence links us emotionally to Ann’s growing legend. McKenzie’s performance carries a quiet, poignant ache, anchoring the film’s more lofty moments with the heartfelt weight of genuine devotion.
The journey to New England and the birth of the Shaker community offer the most compelling moments in the film. Fastvold vividly depicts the communal labor, the collective longing for spiritual renewal, and the delicate hope that sustains the group. These scenes highlight the film’s strengths: a keen focus on ritual, a fascination with collective identity, and a belief in faith’s transformative power. However, the film’s reluctance to more openly question Ann’s authority leaves some tensions unexplored, adding a layer of complexity to the narrative.
The violence inflicted upon Ann and her followers introduces a darker register that the film handles with solemnity. Fastvold does not sensationalize the brutality; instead, she frames it as the cost of radical belief in a hostile world. Seyfried’s portrayal of Ann’s endurance during these passages is riveting, and the film’s commitment to her unwavering conviction becomes its emotional core. Yet the film’s reverence occasionally limits its willingness to probe the psychological complexity of such endurance.
By the time the film reaches Ann’s final days, The Testament of Ann Lee immerses viewers in a world filled with spiritual fervor and communal yearning. The film’s unwavering devotion to its protagonist becomes both its strongest point and its most persistent challenge. Yet when an artist dares such a sweeping vision and remains completely committed to it, the work commands admiration. Fastvold has crafted something extraordinary: a biographical musical born from the very faith it celebrates.
Letter Grade: B+. On Hulu.
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