The Testament of Ann Lee

Name: The Testament of Ann Lee
Director: Mona Fastvold
Genre: 18, 36, 10402
Released: 2025
Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Lewis Pullman, Thomasin McKenzie, Matthew Beard, Christopher Abbott

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People

Mona Fastvold• Director Amanda Seyfried Lewis Pullman Thomasin McKenzie Matthew Beard Christopher Abbott Viola Prettejohn David Cale Stacy Martin Scott Handy Jeremy Wheeler

Where to Watch

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The extraordinary true legend of Ann Lee, founder of the devotional sect known as the Shakers.

Who would love this

♥likely appreciate ambitious, auteur-driven cinema that takes risks with form and subject matter. Viewers interested in religious history, unconventional musicals, and strong central performances will find much to admire. Fans of Mona Fastvold's previous work, such as "The Brutalist," may also be drawn to its distinctive style.

Who might not

✗might be those who prefer more conventional narrative structures and pacing. Viewers who are not inclined towards religious themes, or who find films that prioritize style over substance frustrating, may not connect with it. Its uncompromising nature and potential for feeling overlong could also alienate some audiences.

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What critics are saying about The Testament of Ann Lee

Amanda Seyfried, Mona Fastvold, and Lewis Pullman attend the premiere of 'The Testament of Ann Lee' during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.It’s quite extraordinary that a third joined, but no, I didn’t want to consult them because my interpretation of this story is probably quite different from theirs. I’ve taken creative liberties. I’ve merged characters. I’ve imagined things. My reason for telling the story is different probably from their reason to be part of this religion.

'The Testament of Ann Lee': Mona Fastvold Talks Shaker Hymns

If the results are as bracingly eccentric as that description promises, they’re also less ironic than you might think. Fastvold and her co-writer/creative partner Brady Corbet may maintain a cool, analytical distance in their study of an extreme religious movement founded on challenging principles of celibacy and utopian equality, but “The Testament of Ann Lee” isn’t a travesty or a mockery. As a study of unyielding faith practiced on wholly singular terms, it’s raptly respectful and intellectually curious, even if dramatically, it can pall across the course of a languid 136-minute runtime.

'The Testament of Ann Lee' Review: Amanda Seyfried in ... - Variety