Come and See

Synopsis:

In Thailand where the major religion is Buddhism, the wealthiest and the most controversial temple “Dhammakaya” is in crisis. The 72-year-old abbot was charged with money laundering and receiving stolen property from one of his followers. On June 16, 2016, the police arrived at the temple with a search warrant but faced resistance from thousands of disciples forming a human barricade, meditating to block the gate. They announced that the abbot was severely ill and would enter the judicial process only when the country returned to democracy.
In the conflict between the “justice system” in the hands of the officials and the omniscient temple with millions of followers from every social rank, the film will look through the eyes of Bumpen, a 50-year-old woman who is now residing at the temple alongside other thousands disciples to protect the convicted abbot from law enforcement by any means necessary. By exploring the belief system, which most Thais consider brainwashing, through the lives of current and former members of Dhammakaya, this film will be the quintessential reflection on the clash between politics and faith in modern Thai society.