Seyfried's Powerful Role: Trauma, Faith, and Utopian Dreams

Amanda Seyfried embodies Ann Lee, founder of the Shakers, in a new film that delves into the complexities of trauma, faith, and communal living. Seyfried draws powerful parallels between Ann Lee's historical utopian vision and the present-day societal need for collective care and mutual support. The performance is described as a career peak.

This genre-bending drama explores the founder's devastating grief and her subsequent creation of a religious movement centered on equality and shared living. Seyfried emphasizes the film's surprising humor and its profound, unexpected resonance with contemporary issues, suggesting that prioritizing each other is a beautiful, vital agenda.

Beyond her compelling portrayal, Seyfried discusses the demanding physical choreography and the grueling production, including a climactic burning-house sequence. Despite the challenges, she reflects on the unifying experience and the enduring human capacity to thrive through hardship, drawing inspiration from Lee's journey.