New York Film Fest 2017 REVIEWS: Barbet Schroeder’s THE VENERABLE W. is a portrait of the racist Buddhist monk instrumental in Myanmar’s ethnic cleansing as well as a reflection of what’s currently in play in the USA
For anyone following the story of what’s happening in Myanmar, The Venerable W. provides insights which don’t make the news. But what’s most frightening of all is how all of this awfulness is reflected in the current age of American politics. Xenophobic pandering to whip up hysteria and outrage are used effectively by Wirathu, and very much echo the playbook of a particular tweeting president you may have heard of.