Film Reviews & Movie Analysis

A spiritual drama charting the life of Ann Lee (Amanda Seyfried) and the rise of the Shaker movement as devotion and persecution shape a religious community.

There is something spellbinding about The Testament of Ann Lee that can be attributed to three key factors. The first is Amanda Seyfried. Sure, her Mancunian accent is occasionally distracting, but you’ve got to give her points for effort (unless you actually come from Manchester). Seyfried’s dedication to incarnating Ann Lee is in everything from her wide, earnest eyes to her determined praise and worship on land and sea. Her angelic voice truly makes this movie soar, and when paired with Mona Fastvold’s choice of wide shots for the Shakers’ rhythmic and repetitive choreography, at times you feel like you’re watching a piece of religious art come to life. It’s genuinely transformative and is enough to make you believe in their belief.

However, whilst Seyfried’s hunger and thirst for the Lord are striking, the plotting of her story leaves a lot to be desired. Key events that punctuate Lee’s life, such as her brother’s unwavering dedication amidst his own personal struggles, and her husband’s growing doubts, are kept at arm’s length while the audience claws for access to the emotional grounding these moments could bring. It’s a shame, as the ensemble are as equally committed to the film as Seyfried but are denied a deeper exploration of their characters.

Barring a few scenes, The Testament of Ann Lee feels less like a shared experience and more like a detached observation, so despite the beauty and intentionality in each frame, the film’s true communal power never quite takes hold.

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