THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE Special Screenings

With her wildly ambitious third feature — a colonial-era musical about the rise of the Shaker movement spanning 30 years — filmmaker Mona Fastvold (co-writer of THE BRUTALIST) crafts a lyrical and visually arresting portrait of one of early America’s most enigmatic spiritual figures and one of the few female religious leaders of the 18th century. Amanda Seyfried delivers a career-defining performance as Ann Lee, the visionary leader of the Shakers — a movement that proposed a radically unique interpretation of scripture which emphasized pacifism and collectivism in pursuit of a more equitable and utopian society. Making her way from the cramped cotton mills of Manchester to the open plains of pre-revolutionary New England, Ann Lee ushers in a new vision of Christianity that draws faithful followers from across the region. Rich in historical detail and featuring incredible musical set pieces drawn from early Shaker spirituals — including one shot on board a fully operational 18th century ship — THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE explores themes of exile, devotion and transcendence through bold visual and narrative lenses. Fastvold’s direction balances the spiritual with the visceral, giving Lee’s inner world a vivid cinematic life. A haunting original score by Oscar® winner Daniel Blumberg pulsates through the film, echoing the ecstatic rhythms of the Shaker faith and underscoring its blend of collective belief and personal sacrifice. With lush BARRY LYNDON-esque cinematography by William Rexer and a formidable supporting cast that includes Thomasin McKenzie, Christopher Abbott, Lewis Pullman and Tim Blake Nelson, THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE reimagines a chapter of American religious history with urgency and grace. –Abbie Algar