"Many of the tenets that 18th-century Shaker movement founder Ann Lee espoused hundreds of years ago could well enlighten today's not-always-inclusive culture, says Amanda Seyfried. She came to that conclusion by virtue of her starring in The Testament of Ann Lee, an epic historical drama and musical directed and co-written by Mona Fastvold. The film has drawn positive reviews on the festival circuit, not to mention some Oscar buzz, and opens in theaters nationwide on Jan. 23."
"For Fastvold, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter (The Brutalist) and director, bringing Lee's spiritual journey to the screen shines a big spotlight on a relatively unknown but influential historical figure who championed communal living, gender equality and celibacy. The idea that people were yearning for a community that pleaded for equality all the way back then, and that 6,000 people gave up sex to be a part of that, to live in that system that's a big sacrifice,"
Amanda Seyfried stars as Mother Ann Lee, portraying her with kinetic religious fervor and an ethereal quality. Mona Fastvold directed and co-wrote the epic historical drama and musical The Testament of Ann Lee, which premiered on the festival circuit to positive reviews and Oscar buzz and opens nationwide Jan. 23. The film chronicles Ann Lee's spiritual journey across three dramatized chapters and features more than a dozen trance-inducing songs. The narrative emphasizes Shaker doctrines of communal living, gender equality, celibacy, and pacifism, and highlights the scale of commitment, including some 6,000 adherents abandoning sex to join the community.
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