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Why more people should be talking about The Testament of Ann Lee

The Testament of Ann Lee is a new film that tells the story of an illiterate girl who becomes the spiritual leader of the Shakers, one of the most influential religions of the New World in the 18th century. Today on Commotion, New York Times movie critic Alissa Wilkinson tells guest host Radheyan Simonpillai why it’s a movie more people should see.

The unique movie musical tells the story of a poor girl who became the spiritual leader of the Shakers

CBC Arts ·
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An ecstatic looking woman in period clothes dances in a large group.
Amanda Seyfried (centre) appears in a still from The Testament of Ann Lee. (TIFF)

The Testament of Ann Lee is a new film starring Amanda Seyfried as the titular woman who founded the Shaker movement.

The film follows her rise from being a poor, illiterate girl, to becoming the spiritual leader of the one of the most influential religions in the New World, in the 18th century.

The screenplay was written by Mona Fastvold and Brady Corbet, the same husband-and-wife team behind The Brutalist, but the film has yet to generate the same level of award season buzz.

Today on Commotion, New York Times movie critic Alissa Wilkinson joins guest host Radheyan Simonpillai to talk about why this is a movie people should not miss, and why it's flown under the radar until now.

WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube:

You can listen to the full discussion from today's show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Interview with Alissa Wilkinson produced by Jess Low.

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