Having brought the masses in Venice to a near religious fervour with a rousing 15-minute standing ovation, “ The Testament of Ann Lee ” — much like the characters in the film — is heading West.

From director Mona Fastvold and starring Amanda Seyfried as the founder of Christian the Shakers, who left 18th century England behind for a new life in America with her growing band of believers. The not-quite-musical (the Shakers were known for their frenzied singing) and not-quite-biopic was recently acquired by Searchlight, with a suitably holy Christmas Day release planned. But before making it to the promised land, Seyfried and her flock of followers (ok, most of them) enjoyed a relative homecoming, with “Ann Lee” having its U.K. premiere as part of the BFI London Film Festival.

For Viol

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