Before writer-director Mona Fastvold dove into research for her latest historical drama, she, like many today, knew the Shakers mostly through their earthly contributions to furniture design. While ...

What is The Testament of Ann Lee about? Fastvold reached back across the centuries to tell the story of Ann Lee, the 17th century founder of the Shakers — a Quaker sect famous incorporating ecstatic ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Amanda Seyfried in "The Testament of Ann Lee" Searchlight Pictures Among the low, static chatter of the everyday, a woman throws ...

The first half of “The Testament of Ann Lee” captures the religious awakening of the eponymous Shaker founder (Amanda Seyfried) and her journey to proselytizing and persecution in Manchester, England.

Filmmakers Mona Fastvold and Brady Corbet are clearly fascinated by ambition. They’re fascinated, too, by dreamers — difficult dreamers, brilliant but demanding people who have plans they must fulfill ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Lee, pegged by Fastvold as the “first feminist” of colonial America, was born in Manchester, England, in 1736. She would go on to ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Gold Derby: So take me back to the beginning. What drew you to this story? Mona Fastvold: The first thing I knew about the Shakers ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Director Mona Fastvold, center, with star Amanda Seyfried, right, and cast and crew members on the set of "The Testament of Ann ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Seyfried stars as Ann Lee, the founder of the Shakers, a Quaker sect famous for incorporating ecstatic dances into their worship.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Amanda Seyfried in "The Testament of Ann Lee" (Credit: Venice Film Festival) “The Testament of Ann Lee” will release just in time ...

A musical biopic fittingly composed of religious ballads, The Testament of Ann Lee chronicles the life of its eponymous 18th century religious leader, played with tremendous passion by Amanda Seyfried ...