Mona Fastvold directs The Testament of Ann Lee (15, 137 mins), a visually stunning drama co-written with Brady Corbet. This intense period piece explores religion, prejudice, feminism, and architecture in 18th-century England and America.
The Testament of Ann Lee
Fastvold, taking the director’s chair after Corbet helmed their previous collaboration The Brutalist (2024), teams with cinematographer William Rexer to create breathtaking visuals reminiscent of Thomas Gainsborough’s paintings. The 1700s come alive in picturesque detail.
Amanda Seyfried delivers a fiercely committed performance as Ann Lee, the Lancastrian leader of the Shaking Quakers—later known as the Shakers or United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Coming. She maintains a credible northern English accent throughout.
The story follows Ann and her devoted followers, who view her as the embodiment of Christ’s second coming. They journey from Manchester’s industrial mills to a Hudson River settlement, singing Shaker spirituals and shaking in ecstatic worship, undeterred by ocean crossings. The adapted songs feature tuneful, choreographed sequences that evoke fervor.
Shaker history gains depth here, including Ann’s emphasis on sexual abstinence, influenced by the loss of four infants and her husband Abraham’s preferences for oral sex and sado-masochism. ‘No one can reach God while wallowing in the lust of the flesh,’ Ann declares.
Christopher Abbott portrays Abraham, Lewis Pullman plays her brother William, and Thomasin McKenzie serves as narrator and disciple Mary. Performances shine, and Shaker minimalist architecture and furniture evolve fascinatingly on screen. Yet, despite late tension with witchcraft accusations, the drama feels dreary overall.
Rating: Won’t shake you up.
EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
Baz Luhrmann’s documentary EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert (12A, 90 mins) complements his 2022 biopic Elvis. Unearthed from Warner Brothers archives in Kansas salt mines, 65 boxes of 1970s Vegas concert footage have been restored with synced audio.
This thrilling showcase proves late-period Elvis remains an extraordinary performer. Beyond charisma, his musicality captivates. Off-stage moments include tributes from Cary Grant and Sammy Davis Jr. ‘You started to rev up and you never stopped,’ Davis marvels.
An unreleased audiotape of Elvis discussing his career adds depth. Highlights feature a mesmerizing Suspicious Minds with an immersive drum solo. Fans and newcomers alike will feel electrified.
Rating: Will shake you up.
Also Showing: Molly Vs The Machines
Molly Vs The Machines (15, 91 mins, four stars) examines the tragic 2017 suicide of 14-year-old Molly Russell, fueled by toxic online self-harm content. Marc Silver’s documentary targets unaccountable social media platforms from Silicon Valley, including resistance to regulation labeled as censorship by figures like Mark Zuckerberg.
Molly’s father, Ian Russell, emerges as a resolute campaigner against child-endangering algorithms. His battle underscores the need for change. This powerful film urges viewers to support reform.
In cinemas now; airs on Channel 4 at 9pm, Thursday, March 5.
