Testament of Ann Lee vs Mormon Cinema

[drumdude]

I had the immense pleasure of catching the new film, "Testament of Ann Lee" in glorious 70mm. As one of the few people on the planet who has watched (on the silver screen) both "Six Days in August" and this film about the Shakers, I feel uniquely qualified to compare and contrast these two religious films both set in the late 1700's/early 1800's time period.

To begin, the difference in weight and gravitas is palpable. Six Days in August feels like one of those videos they roll out from the ward video library, to play in front of a sleepy chapel sunday school crowd. The Testament of Ann Lee, on the other hand, is a true piece of artwork. The Shaker religion is treated with immense dignity and respect, and the scenes of their dancing and shaking are visceral. The soundtrack and the visuals are absolutely captivating.

During the middle of the film, you begin to really sympathize with Ann Lee. She receives a revelation from God that the only way to return to God is to abstain from all forms of sex. This puts an incredible strain on her marriage. Her husband lasts 6 years before he finally falters under the weight of the restriction. The film doesn't hold back in its depiction of sex, it's an adult movie for adults. Six Days feels like a children's movie in comparison.

The comparison to Joseph Smith is inescapable. Joseph received a revelation from God that he must cheat on his wife Emma. The polar moral opposite. While Ann had to accept a revelation that was personally devastating, Joseph conveniently received a revelation that allowed him to indulge in carnal pleasures.

In the end, you leave the cinema to credits that are barely audible, just the quiet sounds of nature to reflect on Ann Lee's life. I can't recommend the film enough to anyone interested in early American religion.

I do find it interesting that Ann's religious movement never caught on. And yet the one founded by Joseph and Brigham, by men who were fine living in bigamy and sin, became one of the world's richest and most powerful religions today. It's obvious to me which one aligns more closely with Christ's message and ministry.

Here's the trailer for the film to get the flavor of it, again I highly recommend it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb0ZhiDD9J0

[huckelberry]

Drumdude, why or how would one expect her movement to catch on? It sounds unpleasant and pointless.

[sock puppet]

Drumdude, why or how would one expect her movement to catch on? It sounds unpleasant and pointless.

I found Mormonism to be unpleasant and pointless

[drumdude]

Drumdude, why or how would one expect her movement to catch on? It sounds unpleasant and pointless.

If you accept the premise that she had a revelation from God, then I think abstinence is a small price to pay for eternal salvation. I think religious visions are most likely delusional, but that wasn't the prevailing belief back then. They were taken very seriously.

Early Mormon polygamy was especially unpleasant for the women. The big difference I think was that unpleasantness for men was much more of a deal breaker than the same for women.

[Marcus]

Drumdude, why or how would one expect her movement to catch on? It sounds unpleasant and pointless.

I found Mormonism to be unpleasant and pointless

I think he was being ironic, but my first instinct was to respond that I find polygamy to be unpleasant and pointless.

[drumdude]

I found Mormonism to be unpleasant and pointless

I think he was being ironic, but my first instinct was to respond that I find polygamy to be unpleasant and pointless.

100%

[huckelberry]

I think he was being ironic, but my first instinct was to respond that I find polygamy to be unpleasant and pointless.

100%

Polygamy is, to my view, dour and pointless and does not explain why Ann Lee's movement faded while Mormonism grew. Mormonism has the advantage of having polygamy removed but it grew before that change.

I feel sure that suspicion and rejection of visions was very common back then. There were some people caught up in visions then as there are now.
I think polygamy has more of a male domination aspect despite some female apologists claiming some female advantages. That would explain the different success rate in part.

I think a significant difference lies between a hope for improving life rather than escaping it.

[Gadianton]

While Ann had to accept a revelation that was personally devastating,

I have my doubts about that. It's not surprising to me that male prophets get revelations demanding more sex while female prophets get revelations demanding less.

However, from what you describe, the movie sounds pretty good. Perhaps the sincerity of the Shaker movement registered with you more because the movie was so much better? Perhaps you'd have more sympathy for Joseph Smith as a religious figure if somebody could figure out how to make a good movie about it? Looking at it that way, the failure rests on one man. I think we know who that is.

[drumdude]

While Ann had to accept a revelation that was personally devastating,

I have my doubts about that. It's not surprising to me that male prophets get revelations demanding more sex while female prophets get revelations demanding less.

However, from what you describe, the movie sounds pretty good. Perhaps the sincerity of the Shaker movement registered with you more because the movie was so much better? Perhaps you'd have more sympathy for Joseph Smith as a religious figure if somebody could figure out how to make a good movie about it? Looking at it that way, the failure rests on one man. I think we know who that is.

Absolutely. I was wishing the whole time a movie of that caliber could be made about early Mormonism.

DCP should really take notes.

[Doctor Scratch]

The trouble is that the ultimate goal is not to create genuinely "good" Mormon cinema. The movies are there as window dressing so that someone can travel and dine out and put all the bills on Interpreter's "expense account."