Oscar Snub: Amanda Seyfried’s Career-Best Performance in “Ann Lee’s Testament”

Amanda Seyfried has always ventured beyond the comedy roles that marked her early career, such as in “Mean Girls” or “Mamma Mia!”. The adventurous actress has a knack for embracing much darker characters, as seen in Tom Hooper’s “Les Misérables”, Paul Schrader’s “First Reformed”, and David Fincher’s “Mank” – a role that earned her an Oscar nomination.

In Mona Fastvold’s “The Testament of Ann Lee”, Seyfried portrays the founder of the religious and sectarian community known as the Shakers. While not well-known in France, the group is notable for their trance states during which they would sing and dance frenetically. Importantly, Ann Lee advocated for a complete absence of sexuality in the lives of her followers.

The American star, who fully commits to her role, delivers the best performance of her career. Yet, like many of us, she was initially unfamiliar with Ann Lee. “I paid attention in American history class, and I can assure you the Shakers were never mentioned, which, in hindsight, seems a bit odd,” she shared during a roundtable discussion.

“Her story was really intriguing, and I would have liked to be more surprised that it was never mentioned, she continued. But I’m not, because she was a woman. And she didn’t really care about her legacy. I don’t think she even thought about it, as her focus was on the community and creating a space for them.“

A unique feature of this film, co-written and produced by Brady Corbet – the director of “The Brutalist” – is its trance scenes, which transform this historical biopic into a sort of musical spectacle. These sequences make the film a unique piece in the American cinematic landscape. Filmmaker Mona Fastvold, who delivers a demanding performance here, is well aware that such original and bold films as “The Testament of Ann Lee” are destined to one day become rare.

“It’s nearly impossible to make other films like this today.”

“It’s nearly impossible to make other films like this today, she insists. The number of big-budget independent films is steadily decreasing. Studios are increasingly focusing on franchises, on safe bets. People are so risk-averse at the moment. It was different only 20 or 15 years ago.“

When asked if she fears her fans might not follow her into this new film, Seyfried responds: “I feel like they do follow me, wherever I want to take them. I have my own path, I change often, but if they appreciate what I do and what I have to offer in terms of storytelling, then they will follow me.“

The Testament of Ann Lee, now in theaters