Excerpt from:

Savage Transcendence (2020)

Two Channel HD Video

Running Time: 17:09

Savage Transcendence loosely follows the complex contradictions of Roman von Ungern-Sternberg during a brief period in the early part of the 20th century. The Austrian-born Russian wrested control of Mongolia from China in 1921. He was attracted to Vajrayana Buddhism, yet was also an anti-Semitic fanatic who used unconscionable brutality in his effort to revive the Mongol Empire. In Savage Transcendence, his journey through the landscapes of Mongolia illustrate a man with erratic patriotic tendencies. As the narrative progresses, it’s clear he is not simply just a savage warlord, but is personally guided by his own definition of Buddhism. It’s not difficult to understand why many people questioned his grasp of reality and referred to him as the Mad Baron.