The Testament of Ann Lee

The Testament of Ann Lee takes a promising premise—an 18th‑century spiritual revolt told as a musical—and beautifully depicts the period with care but frustratingly turns the Shakers’ ceremony and prayers into a repetitive, tiring, and sad film.

The film traces Ann Lee (Amanda Seyfried, Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again, First Reformed), founder of the Shaker movement, from happy married life, through repeated personal losses, to a spiritual awakening. The Testament of Ann Lee follows her as she gathers followers, commits to celibacy, and leads her sect to America on the eve of the Revolutionary War. Ann Lee wants to build a community on disciplined faith.

Directorially, the film is often gorgeous: candlelit interiors, rough-hewn textures, and carefully staged group rituals. The central weakness is the repetition of the Shakers’ ecstatic prayer sequences—rhythmic, jerking movement paired with spare chanting—that initially fascinates but soon stalls the momentum. The choreography is precise and committed, but many musical passages end just as they begin to build, leaving the numbers feeling incomplete and spiritually undercooked. Instead of conveying transcendence or purpose, the prayers can register as flat rituals. Even the narrative frequently feels too circumspect, as if there is no real depth, commitment, or belief.

Amanda Seyfried is the film’s anchor and gives Ann a tough resolve that makes the character’s severity feel earned. But even her strong work (and strong hands) can’t fully overcome the film’s slow momentum and narrow emotional range.

Thomasin McKenzie (Last Night in Soho, Leave No Trace), one of my favorite actresses, narrates the film and co-stars as Ann Lee’s closest friend. Ms. McKenzie seems miscast and out of place in this film. Her narration is weak; she never figures significantly in the film and always looks awkward.

The script also leans heavily on the Shakers’ pacifism during the Revolution, but this theme mostly just piles on hardship without deepening the ideas or spirituality.

In the end, The Testament of Ann Lee has the look of a genuine period piece film, however, the repetitiveness of the musical numbers that never ignite – spiritually or dramatically – and the overall sadness of the film makes for a disappointing film.

There are moments of greatness in Amanda Seyfried’s performance, but that is what YouTube is for.

(168) THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE | “All is Summer” Official Clip | Searchlight Pictures – YouTube

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Published April 11, 2026 – Another rainy day in Seattle.