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We all know that Seyfried can sing, as evidenced by her previous musical work in both Mamma Mia! films and in the feature adaptation of  Les Misérables. But The Testament of Ann Lee puts those singing skills to the test alongside a high-intensity performance that Seyfried slides into effortlessly. Seyfried has quietly become a real auteur’s actress, working with directors like Atom Egoyan, David Lynch, Paul Schrader, Noah Baumbach and David Fincher. But Seyfried seems to find real artistic synergy alongside Fastvold, as the director guides her to a totally immersive performance.

Seyfried took on the challenge of portraying a character carrying immense grief following the death of her children, alongside a ferocious belief that she is truly the female incarnation of Christ. In addition to the emotional intensity of the role, so too was a physical intensity by way of the musical numbers, which force Seyfried to move her body in violent trembles that both replicate the dancing style of the Shakers while also conveying her character’s perception of being possessed by the divine. Her raw vocal performance helps to boost the haunting atmosphere of the film, and overall her portrayal is totally earnest in its evoking of religious conviction.

The Movie Spotlights a Trailblazing Pioneer

One of The Testament of Ann Lee’s greatest assets is its commitment to sincerity in its depiction of religious fanaticism. Instead of approaching the material with a cynicism or dismissal of these peoples’ beliefs (which includes an ardent commitment to celibacy), Fastvold and co. instead take to manifesting their beliefs as evocatively as possible, through the direction, tone, performances and musical numbers. The film immerses you in the world of the Shakers and in the perspective of Ann Lee, treating its subjects with respect and treating the Shakes’ ecstatic worship not as craziness, but as a genuine form of religious experience coupled with a deep sense of community belonging.

What’s more, the film serves as a much-needed spotlight on a forgotten female figure of American history. Ann Lee was ultimately a crucial yet overlooked visionary who suffered greatly for her conviction to her movement (even if her ideas of a utopian society were based in frequently contradicting principles). She faced persecution and accusations of witchcraft and was repeatedly thrown in jail, yet her resolution in her ideas never wavered. Ann Lee was a deeply flawed figure, but The Testament of Ann Lee is determined to hold up her influence among the ranks of the many men we continue to remember instead.

Stream The Testament of Ann Lee now on Hulu.