The Brutalist was one of the most acclaimed films of 2024, earning ten Oscar nominations and winning three. Now the duo behind it, Mona Fastvold and Brady Corbet, are back with another dramatic epic, The Testament of Ann Lee, that is earning Best Actress buzz for star Amanda Seyfried.
In The Testament of Ann Lee, Seyfried plays the titular head of the 18th-century Shaker movement, as she attempts to lead her religious sect in colonial America. Lee was proclaimed by some to be the female representation of God on earth, and often faced violent retribution for her beliefs.
The musical film is directed by Fastvold, having written the screenplay with her partner, Corbet. Fastvold earned critical acclaim for her previous film, 2020’s The World to Come. Composer Daniel Blumberg is back following his work on The Brutalist, as well.
Joining Seyfried in the cast are Lewis Pullman, Thomasin McKenzie, Stacy Martin, Christoper Abbott, and Tim Blake Nelson.
SYNOPSIS: “The Testament of Ann Lee” is a musical retelling of the life of Ann Lee, the 18th-century founder of the Shaker religious movement, and believed to be the female incarnation of Christ. The film depicts the Shakers’ quest to build a utopian society based on their beliefs. Their worship is characterized by enthusiastic song and dance, which is central to the film’s musical and choreographed elements. It explores themes of religious persecution, gender equality, and the struggle for belonging and communal grace.
Searchlight Pictures will open The Testament of Ann Lee on Christmas Day.
