A more proper title would be “The Many Transitions of Ann Lee.” or “The Pains and Pleasures of Ann Lee”. A woman from poverty, to wife, to religion founder-to flourishing cult leader. A woman who heard a calling to start and to lead a religious sect. The film unflinching concentrates on her passion, and commitment that she and her followers had, never once giving in to steer to satire or question her mentality, but enormously flawed. All great ingredients for drama. A drama that does not hide that we are following unreliable title character too. It is almost destiny a film about her would turn out to be a musical, but not a celebratory musical, or jubilant musical. There is a profound solemn to this film that we hardly see with this genre. A huge risk to do for a musical. The result is a great film-teetering on being a masterpiece. It’s phenomenal. 

 Of course the by-product of a great musical is that the sound mixing and sound editing, as well as, the overall sound of the film is utterly fantastic. Great musicals know without that provincial key of great sound anything done on screen does not matter. The sound needs to be sharp and clean even when quiet. “The Testament of Ann Lee” is no exception, it should be nominated for sound mixing and sound editing.

Directed and co-written by Mona Fastvold, along with by her partner Brady Corbett (The Brutalist) the film is also a testament of motion. There is a sense of perpetual movement, not just dance, and spiritual shaking but also in the quieter moments- nothing is still. An under current urge of -to go, and with it a parallel sense of transitioning- constant transitioning. There is a scene where the followers of Ann Lee chant “all is constant” as if to combat the notion of death, but what they are really saying to themselves is nothing is stationary. Where it really works in is being on location in a natural setting and in natural light with an almost perfect editing. It aerates when it has to and builds up when it demands it. It’s allegorical and brutal. It’s rhythmic and poetic and violent and chaotic.  It’s a great mixture of hurt and enjoyment. Theres also an undeniable passion to the making of this film that just seeps through the end result. They same that I said in my review of “The Brutalist”

Amanda Seyfried should get a best actress nomination for this. She goes through a crucible in this film.  Its third act is something to marvel over-so rightfully played out. The film will get a best picture nomination and I will submit it for my film critic association as well. The only snag with it is goes a little indulgent of itself at times almost knowing it needs a sin it need to be expunged like Ann Lee herself knew we all have. 9/10