By Anne Brodie
Testament of Ann Lee is a gut-wrenching story of a woman’s faith that will have you spinning. Ann Lee, (Amanda Seyfried) born in Manchester UK in 1736 had a peculiar life. The opening sequence finds a group of pioneer women bending to the ground and throwing themselves towards heaven while chanting their way through a forest. Lee sailed to Massachusetts where she proclaimed her Methodist beliefs in concert with fellow believers, who as their numbers increased came to be known as Shakers. They were so rapt in their prayers that they moved, danced and ecstatically released their love of God. Lee had seen heavenly visions as a child and now leads revivals. Methodists believed God was both male and female and before long she was proclaimed to be the second coming of Jesus. She marries Abraham who beat her during her ecstatic experiences; and forced her to have sex while she felt the way to God was through celibacy. Lee bore four children, none of whom lived a full year. She was in a bad place and sought out God in ways she best knew, speaking in tongues in multiple different languages, and firing up followers as the second coming. And the shaking. They danced wildly, sometimes in controlled dances in which they beat themselves, and in free form, animalistic displays. Against this backdrop and time spent in prison, Lee changed the face of religion in the New World. An incredible and outrageous story with strength and fury by director and co-writer Mona Fastvold. There are said to be only three Shakers left today. In Toronto theatres now and expanding Jan 28.
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, published in 1929 has proven a popular tale from the author’s body of work, adapted multiple times. Netflix carries the latest version starring Mia McKenna-Bruce as inquisitive Lady Eileen ‘Bundle’ Brent and Helena Bonham Carter as her mother, the wealthy aristocrat Lady Caterham who tells her “Never thank staff. Where would it end?” It opens in a bullring under scorching skies as a lone man trapped inside is set upon and gored by a bull. Cut to Lady C’s fancy dress party and its high-ranking guests. Bundle is in a flirtation with Gerry Wade and he hints that he will ask for her hand the following week. Wade is known for his deep sleep for some reasons so a group of pranksters set up eight alarm clocks on his bedside table to test him. The next morning when houseguests are at breakfast the alarms go off but Wade doesn’t get up to turn them off. Lady Eileen finds him dead in his bed. And now there are seven clocks on his mantlepiece. On receiving news about the gored man, Bundle drives to London but finds one of her houseguests dead on the road who gasps “seven dials”. Intrigued? Classic Christie! McKenna-Bruce puts in a terrific performance and how wonderful to see Bonham Carter in this juicy role.
Finding Her Edge, Jennifer Iacopelli’s young adult novel set in the world of competitive skating looks at family loyalties, the sometimes-confusing emotions girls experience as they grow up under pressure to perform, work ethic, family ties, and young love. Russo’s Rink is the wasps’ nest where this scenario plays out as the three Russo sisters, the eldest, Elise (Alexandra Beaton), Adriana (Madelyn Keys) and Maria (Alice Malakhov) contribute to their widowed father’s dream of creating a skating dynasty. He demands unquestioning loyalty, hard work, and excellence on the ice. But each girl is her own person, and sometimes their ambition doesn’t align with their father’s goal. But they know he’s racked up gambling debts and feel saving him and his “dynasty” is their responsibility, a burden for these young girls. Elise the family swan makes everything look easy, she’s a top ranked skater and keeps a cool head; she is their hope as a skating super champion. She’s also canny, knowing the family will lose everything if she doesn’t follow through and bring in money and build the Rink’s reputation. Adriana doesn’t skate anymore, preferring to help and keep an eye on Dad; he is increasingly controlling. We see things from her perspective. Maria knows the landscape and doesn’t make waves. Skating duo partners is an important element iand things change like that, adding to all their pressures. The girls must navigate these realities while growing into their own personas; occasionally rebellion breaks out. The eight parter is a Hallmark early induction piece but kudos to the actors who give their all, on ice and dry land. Shot in Oro Medonte, Toronto and Paris. Eight episodes now on Netflix.