Amanda Seyfried’s new film The Testomony of Ann Lee simply had its world premiere on the 2025 Venice Movie Competition, and the Oscar-nominated star spoke about how liberating it was to play the unconventional non secular chief. Directed by Mona Fastvold, Ann Lee depicts the Shakers non secular sect within the 18th century, revolving across the titular founder.
The Testomony of Ann Lee is described as a form of musical film, a speculative retelling of Lee’s life and the formation of her faith, known as the Shakers due to their worship practices, which concerned unusual dancing and singing. The film makes use of unique Shaker hymns, with music composed by the Oscar-winning Daniel Blumberg and choreography by Celia Rowlson-Corridor.
The Testomony of Ann Lee was co-written by Fastvold and her companion Brady Corbet (Fastvold beforehand co-wrote The Brutalist, the Greatest Image nominee directed by Corbet), and likewise stars Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Stacy Martin, Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Abbott, Matthew Beard, Scott Helpful, Jamie Bogyo, Viola Prettejohn, and David Cale.
Due to the film’s unconventional construction and Fastvold’s gentle route, Seyfried may take the character anyplace she wished in what a gift journalist described as an “intense and bodily difficult” function. Seyfried mentioned about enjoying Lee on the Venice Movie Competition press convention (through The Hollywood Reporter):
This did really feel like a chance the place there have been simply no tethers to something. Principally, I observe Mona into the sunshine and something goes as a result of there’s a lot freedom, and the one risk is to not use that freedom to your benefit as an artist to go as far deep as you’ll be able to go to make the craziest sounds. I’ve by no means been let unfastened on this method.
Seyfried additionally spoke positively of the set atmosphere Fastvold created, elevating her efficiency, which “[required] numerous vocal vitality and distinctive sounds” (THR) — though the star discouraged the director from casting her. Take a look at Seyfried’s feedback on this beneath:
I saved saying, “Go along with anyone English,” as a result of the accent appeared so onerous. That wasn’t the toughest half. But it surely was simply, I noticed the love Mona had. This was her child, and I did not need to f–k it up. However she believed in me, and so I believed in me, and right here we’re.
Ann Lee is already a genre-bending film, intersecting with the interval piece, musical, and biopic genres. Seyfried is versed in film musicals from her time starring in Mamma Mia! and Les Misérables, however it’s clear that it is a totally different beast. The singing on this new movie is just not like every other fashionable Broadway manufacturing or adaptation.
It required Seyfried to, as she says it, “let unfastened.” Regardless of her preliminary skepticism that she was match for the function, she embraced its uniqueness, making the “craziest sounds” and letting the choreography carry her away. Early opinions for The Testomony of Ann Lee communicate to the film’s vibrant vitality, illustrating how very important it was for Seyfried to decide to the intrepid efficiency.
Our Take On Amanda Seyfried’s Efficiency In The Testomony Of Ann Lee
The Testomony of Ann Lee is definitely going to be a film not like few others, but in addition probably one among Amanda Seyfried’s finest films. Early opinions appear to agree that it really works as supposed and that Seyfried’s efficiency is superb. It’s simple for the venture to turn out to be increasingly intriguing as audiences study concerning the solid and crew’s strategy to the unconventional style.
As Fastvold makes use of the musical format to discover a way of life and piece of historical past, the actors’ understanding of the characters is essential. Amanda Seyfried can be simply one among many proficient names in The Testomony of Ann Lee, who ought to make the story very memorable.
The Testomony of Ann Lee
8/10
- Launch Date
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September 1, 2025
- Runtime
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130 minutes
- Director
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Mona Fastvold
- Writers
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Brady Corbet
- Producers
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Viktória Petrányi, Lillian LaSalle, Megan Ellison, Klaudia Śmieja-Rostworowska, Patrick Chu, Joshua Horsfield, Adam Paulsen, Andrew Morrison, Mark Lampert, Kyle Stroud, Scott Aharoni, Saskia Gigi Duff, Michael D’Alto, Tom Ogden