Hello friends, good vibes to all.

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If there's one thing I enjoy learning about, it's the diverse beliefs people hold throughout history and around the world, whether they belong to established religions or are the product of sects invented by the minds and cunning of some individuals. Many of these latter beliefs are documented online, but today we're going to talk about the "Shakers," a religious movement founded by Ann Lee in England in the 1700s. The Testament of Ann Lee tells the story of someone who, due to certain traumas she suffered in her life, developed a very particular way of understanding faith.

The star of this film is Amanda Seyfried, who, I can tell you now, delivers a phenomenal performance, as we've come to expect from her. She portrays a woman who, in the 18th century, suffered the loss of several children, which led to a decline in her mental state and, above all, a loss of faith. After experiencing various events, precisely in her search for answers and a different path, she ends up in prison. It is there that she receives the first visions that she is destined to be the "female Jesus Christ" in what would be his second coming. This is how Ann Lee begins a process of evangelization, capitalizing on the discontent of some with the Catholic Church and using her trauma to assert that permanent celibacy is the only path to salvation.

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Having lost several children during childbirth, I suppose she suffered some trauma that prevented her from having relationships with anyone, even her husband, hence the proclamation of her movement. She went so far as to say that sexual relations are the root of all of society's evils. With that in mind, she gained followers to the point that she emigrated to the United States to expand this "society." The film, as I mentioned, tells us a bit about Ann Lee's short life and everything she ends up going through in the USA. Personally, I found it all incredibly interesting because I enjoy learning about these things; for me, it's fascinating how the human mind can work when we talk about cults and that need to belong to something, searching for who knows what.

I admit I didn't watch it at first because I thought it was a musical, but it turns out it isn't. There are several scenes where it might seem like one, but those songs and choreography were typical of the Shakers, so they're used to better understand the story and provide more context. The lyrics of these songs evoke the ideology championed by Ann Lee. These dances and lyrics can be mesmerizing because of how well they're executed, the emotion they convey, and of course, because the level of devotion these people had for this woman and her words is truly intriguing. It's important to clarify that this isn't the entire film, but it is one of the most interesting parts.

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The cinematography is spectacular, the set design, costumes, lighting; everything is perfectly crafted to truly immerse you in the era. Amanda Seyfried's performance is top-notch, completely inhabiting the role. This is a historical drama, so that's all you'll see. Being a biography as well, the film's pacing isn't exactly slow, but it is typical of the genre. If you really enjoy learning about these kinds of stories, I highly recommend the film. I went in with somewhat low expectations, but in the end, it turned out to be a great film with a very worthwhile plot to delve into. After watching it, you're left with the inevitable question: did these people truly have faith in their hearts despite the novelty of the movement, or was there a bit of fanaticism? The more political answer is perhaps a bit of both, but I don't know. What do you think? For me, it's an 8/10. I've included the trailer below.

Well folks, that's all for today. I hope you enjoyed it.
¡Hugs to everyone, see you next time!