• Drama
• History
• Music

The Testament of Ann Lee 2025

Directed by Mona Fastvold and co-written with Brady Corbet, The Testament of Ann Lee (2025) is a sweeping historical musical drama that chronicles the life of the eponymous founder of the Shaker movement. Spanning 30 years and moving from the grim cotton mills of 18th-century Manchester, England, to the untamed frontiers of pre-revolutionary New England, the film follows Ann Lee's transformation from a working-class woman haunted by the tragic loss of her four children into a visionary spiritual leader. Proclaimed by her followers as the "female incarnation of Christ," Ann preaches a radical gospel of gender equality, communal living, and celibacy, established as a way to transcend "carnal" suffering. The narrative is punctuated by ecstatic, visceral musical set pieces—shot on 70mm film—that reimagine traditional Shaker hymns as rapturous, choreographed acts of devotion, capturing both the agony of her personal sacrifices and the communal joy of her burgeoning utopia. The film features a "spell-binding" lead performance by Amanda Seyfried as Ann Lee, a role for which she has already garnered a Golden Globe nomination. She is supported by a prestigious ensemble cast, including Thomasin McKenzie as Mary Partington (the film's narrator), Lewis Pullman as Ann's devoted brother William Lee, and Christopher Abbott as her husband, Abraham Standerin. The cast is rounded out by Tim Blake Nelson as Pastor Reuben Wright, Stacy Martin as Jane Wardley, and Matthew Beard as James Whittaker. The production is notable for its technical pedigree, featuring a haunting original score by Oscar-winner Daniel Blumberg and lush, candlelit cinematography by William Rexer, drawing frequent comparisons to the visual style of Barry Lyndon. As of January 8, 2026, the film is currently in the middle of its theatrical rollout. It began a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 25, 2025, through Searchlight Pictures, where it opened in four theaters to a strong per-theater average, grossing approximately $265,000 in its first two weeks. The film is scheduled for a wide expansion in North America on January 23, 2026, and will open in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2026. While no official streaming date has been announced, as a Searchlight production, it is expected to debut on Disney+ and Hulu worldwide approximately 90 to 100 days after its wide theatrical window (likely late April or May 2026). Read More

• 2025
• 2 h : 17 min
• 91 views
• 6.745
• R