Issue 111: The Testament of Ann Lee issue – Out now!

Ever since it screened to critical hosanas at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, we’ve been extolling the virtues of the new film by Mona Fastvold, The Testament of Ann Lee – the story of the founder of 18th Century religious sect, The Shakers. Amanda Seyfried immerses herself in the title role as an uniquely-driven evangelist who attempts to fuse ecstatic song and dance into the more buttoned-down modes of prayer of the time. The film breathes new life into the tired format of the historical biopic, eschewing Wiki-powered objectivity for something more striking and radical which really gets under the skin of Ann and her curious project.

In this special cover edition of LWLies, we speak to Fastvold and Seyfried about the lengths they went to in order to attain a sense of historical fidelity that was also lyrical and dramatic. Fastvold discusses her decision to shoot on 35mm film, and to use lots of classical, analogue techniques to create the mood and tone of the film. Seyfried, meanwhile, talks about her decision to do something a little different, striking out into new dramatic terrain having made a name for herself as a master of romantic musical comedies.

There’s a musicality to the film where song and dance courses through all of Lee’s activities, even down to the way she talks. Composer Daniel Blumberg creates his own miracle with a score that pays homage to original Shaker spirituals while feeling entirely modern and, at times, having more in common with experimental than traditional music. All of which is to say, you must mark this one down on your dance cards when it hits UK cinemas on 20 February. 

On the cover...

Aleksandra Czudżak is a visual artist and illustrator raised on a goat farm in the forests of Poland and she specialises in illustration, drawing and printmaking (especially etching). Of the cover she says:  “Amanda Seyfried’s character is depicted with a sacred halo, made from dancing Shakers. I wanted to depict Ann Lee as a strong, mystic figure, surrounded by the community she created.”

We have amazing new illustrations in the issue from Mhairi Braden, Hazel Mason, Noé Aceiton, Simone Goder, Amy Moss, Mathieu Pauget and Stéphanie Sergeant.