Genre
Synopsis
In 1853, at the height of their influence, the Shakers —a celibate sect devoted to a female messiah—face upheaval as new laws suppress their visionists. Sister Clarissa travels to a remote Shaker village to control the mesmerizing Sister Lucy, who leads perilous rituals. As Clarissa grapples with her conflicting desires and becomes enamored with Lucy, an explosive clash between spiritual fervor and rigid control ignites chaos within the community.
Bio
Cynthia Wade is an Oscar®-winning documentary director who also directs commercials and fiction films. Her new four-part docuseries “MerPeople,” about the dangerous, beautiful world of underwater performers, debuts worldwide on Netflix on May 23, 2023. Cynthia’s television documentaries include “The Flagmakers” (Disney+, Critics Choice Nominee, Oscar shortlist), “Grit” (PBS/Al Jazeera, Emmy® Nominee), “Mondays at Racine” (HBO, Oscar nominee), “Freeheld” (HBO, Oscar winner, Sundance winner), “Born Sweet” (Sundance winner, Oscar shortlist), “Shelter Dogs” (HBO), “Grist for the Mill” (Cinemax), “Growing Hope Against Hunger” (PBS, Emmy Winner), “Generation Startup” (Netflix), “Living the Legacy” (Sundance Channel). Her fiction short “Sproutland” won 15 awards. She directed three episodes of Apple TV+’s docuseries “Gutsy,” featuring Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton. She is a member of DGA, AMPAS, and is represented by William Morris Endeavor (WME). She has won over 50 film festival awards worldwide. She lives in Los Angeles.
