Le vénérable W. (2017)

A view of the religious tensions between Muslims and Buddhist through the portrait of the Buddhist monk Ashin Wirathu, leader of anti-Muslim movement in Myanmar.

Director:

Barbet Schroeder

Writer:

Barbet Schroeder

Stars:

Ashin Wirathu, U. Zanitar, Kyaw Zayar Htun

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Ashin Wirathu	...	Himself
U. Zanitar	...	Himself, Wirathu's Master
Kyaw Zayar Htun	...	Himself
U. Kaylar Sa	...	Himself, Buddist monk
Matthew Smith	...	Himself, journalist
Abdul Rasheed	...	Himself
Carlos Sardiña-Galache	...	Himself, Spanish Journalist
U. Galonni	...	Himself, buddist monk
Aung San Suu Kyi	...	Herself (archive footage)
Bulle Ogier	...	Petite voix bouddhiste (voice)
Maria de Medeiros	...	Little Buddhist Voice (voice)
Barbet Schroeder	...	Narrateur / male voice (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yanghee Lee	...	Herself, UN special rapporteur (archive footage)

Storyline

A view of the religious tensions between Muslims and Buddhist through the portrait of the Buddhist monk Ashin Wirathu, leader of anti-Muslim movement in Myanmar.

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Plot Keywords:

violence | racism | intolerance | bullying | mob violence | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

France Switzerland

Language:

English French Spanish Burmese

Release Date:

7 June 2017 (France)

Also Known As:

El venerable W.

Filming Locations:

Burma

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Losange, Bande a Part Films, Arte France Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the third film in Barbet Schroeder's "trilogy of evil", following, General Idi Amin Dada (1974) and Terror's Advocate (2007).

User Reviews

It's important, but it's not a great film

A pretty good documentary from Barbet Schroeder − a former Éric Rohmer collaborator who now makes factual films about awful people − dealing with Ashin Wirathu, the world's naughtiest baby. Oh, OK, he's a Buddhist hate preacher. Who's eaten quite enough alms, by the looks of him.

It's more a potted history of the path to genocide − with a bit of access and some intelligently-compiled raw footage shot by others − than an in-depth portrait of its subject, though it's an important story and a timely primer on an urgent humanitarian crisis.

As a film, it might be more effective if it had taken the route of its trailer, which makes the Errol Morris-like decision to unveil The Venerable W's toxic Islamophobia at the midway point, rather than leading with it.

In the screening, a woman behind me tutted at everything from fascist rhetoric to burning bodies, as if otherwise we'd think that she was endorsing the behaviour in the film.