Mona Fastvold, Director of Testament of Ann Lee: Make More Big Films About Iconic Women
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Mona Fastvold, director of the musical Testament of Ann Lee, called for more large-scale films about iconic women during the film’s press conference at the Venice Film Festival. Appearing alongside her husband Brady Corbet, she wrote, directed, and produced the screenplay for Ann Lee.
The film is described as “an epic fable” about Ann Lee, the religious leader and founder of the Shaker movement. “Mother Ann Lee” was born in England in 1736 and migrated to New York in 1774 with a small group of followers. Called the “female Christ,” she established one of the largest utopian communities in American history. The worship of Ann Lee and her followers was marked by passionate hymns and dances. The cast also includes Thomasin McKenzie, Lewis Pullman, Christopher Abbott, Tim Blake Nelson, and Stacy Martin.
Fastvold said her interest in exploring Lee’s life stemmed from the religious leader’s unique understanding of leadership: “Of course, speaking about women in leadership seems compelling these days, but I personally try to create a film, a work of art, in an industry where men dominate so heavily… I always try on set to create a culture, a collective that feels a little different, a culture that nurtures, that has kindness and empathy.”
She added: “I don’t prescribe Ann Lee’s beliefs, but I do think her type of leadership—with empathy, kindness, and the will to create a space where everyone is equal, men, women, people of color, and also sympathy with the children of that era—is something very important to talk about today.”
Fastvold noted that very few large-scale films have been made about iconic women: “How many epic stories have you seen about iconic men, over and over again? Can’t we have a story about such a woman? The only one I can recall is Joan of Arc.”
Explaining her choice of Seyfried for the role, she said: “She’s an incredibly powerful actress. She’s a good mother. She’s a little crazy, and so I knew she could understand those things. She could capture the kindness, the gentleness, the softness, and the power of that madness.”
Seyfried said: “Essentially, I follow Mona toward the light, and whatever happens comes from all this freedom. But the only threat is not to use that freedom as an artist to go deeper and create the wildest voices you can. I had never let myself go like this before.”
