Original title: Amanda Seyfried in Tears, Does Shaker Dance After ‘Testament of Ann Lee’ World Premiere at Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival hosted a world premiere on Monday afternoon for Mona Fastvold’s The Testament of Ann Lee, delivering something close to a religious experience. The audience responded to the film, which stars Amanda Seyfried as founder of the radical religious sect the Shakers, with raptrous applause, and a 15-minute standing ovation. Seyfried wipes back tears as the house light rose and joined director Fastvold in the film’s signature arm-pumping shaker dance as the ovation rained down. Fastvold’s partner, and co-screenwriter Brady Corbet worked the crowd and kept the ovation at a fever pitch. Fastvold looked to be in tears as well, turning around to hug her daughter with Corbet who beamed with pride. The Shakers were a cult-like group, which formed as an offshoot of Quakerism in Manchester, England in 1747. They got their name from worship practices that included trembling, dancing and speaking in tongues. Founder Lee espoused gender and social equality while believing hersel