The Testament of Ann Lee (2025)
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A woman's journey from a cotton factory worker to the leader of a radical religious sect in the 18th century.
The story
Born in Manchester in 1736, Ann Lee works in a cotton factory as a child before becoming a cook at a local infirmary. Her life changes when she joins a group of 'Shaking Quakers' who believe the Messiah will be a woman. As she becomes a central figure in their community, she marries Abraham and faces the challenges of their shared faith. After being imprisoned for her radical practices, she is declared 'Mother Ann' by her followers. The film follows her journey as she leads her community through trials, including a voyage to America, as they establish their faith in the New World.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Ann Lee, born in 1736, experiences a traumatic childhood in Manchester before finding solace in the 'Shaking Quakers' movement. After being imprisoned and declaring herself the female Messiah, she is dubbed 'Mother Ann.' She marries Abraham, and despite the loss of four children in infancy, she leads her followers to America. During the voyage on the Mariah, she maintains morale through a violent storm. Upon arrival in New York, she leads the group to a settlement in Niskayuna, where the community grows and develops a distinct aesthetic. During the American Revolution, she is arrested for seeking neutrality but is later freed. The film concludes with her being attacked by a mob while attempting to establish a farm; she is severely injured and eventually dies at age 48, leaving behind a thriving, self-sustaining religious community.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 137
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Mona Fastvold
- Writers
- Mona Fastvold · writer; Brady Corbet · writer
- Cast and characters
- Amanda Seyfried · Ann Lee; Thomasin McKenzie · Mary Partington; Lewis Pullman · William Lee; Stacy Martin · Jane Wardley; Tim Blake Nelson · Pastor Reuben Wright; Christopher Abbott · Abraham Standerin; Viola Prettejohn · Nancy Lee; David Cale · John Hocknell
- Genres
- historical musical drama
- Themes
- faith; religious leadership; sisterhood
- Tone and mood
- solemn; mystical
- Premise and plot tags
- biopic; historical; religious
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, with Sean's performance being highly acclaimed.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 80 · scale: 100 · review count: 43
- Awards and nominations
- Critics' Choice Movie Award · Best Actress · nomination; Golden Globe Award · Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was shot on 35 mm film stock.; The production used prosthetic vaginas to depict the births of Ann's children.; The film was shot in Budapest and on a replica ship in Gothenburg.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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