USA: Borat brings his version of Kazakhstan to California with Los Angeles premiere of "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"

Record ID: 219286

  • Title: USA: Borat brings his version of Kazakhstan to California with Los Angeles premiere of "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"
  • Date: 26th October 2006
  • Summary: BEN STILLER AND WIFE CHRISTINE TAYLOR
  • Embargoed: 10th November 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA1OWCTMLG2XSQ17WV2DWNWCR7N
  • Story Text: The nation of Kazakhstan, or at least Sacha Baron Cohen's version of Kazakhstan, came out to show its support for the outrageous "Ali G. Show" star at the Los Angeles premiere of his new film on Monday (October 23).
    The British comedian plays the title role in "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," a learning journey that follows Baron Cohen's alter ego "Borat Sagdiyev" as he drives across the U.S. with his good friend, a camera, and a black bear. "Borat" was joined by friends from his homeland: slovenly prostitutes, village drunks pushing a cart of fermented horse urine, and bikini-clad members of the Kazakhstani Olympic swim team.
    "I am feeling very excite! I will have a party where we will shoot dog and wrestle totally nude, you're invite. Thank you nice to meet you," said Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, in character as "Borat Sagdiyev," star of "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."
    "Da Ali G. Show" star Sacha Baron Cohen's new film is bound to offend almost everyone when it opens world-wide next month. With his outrageous comments and behaviour, Borat has been a source of controversy -- both in the U.S and in Kazakhstan. The film depicts the oil-rich nation as a land of misogynists, racists and anti-semites whose favourite drink is fermented horse urine. However, it's all done in good fun for Sacha Baron Cohen's fiancé, Australian actress Isla Fisher.
    "Oh of course it's a comedic character, I mean it's intentional, that's the whole point -- to bring out other people's prejudices. It's a satire, it's very funny," said Fisher, who is engaged to Sacha Baron Cohen.
    In the film, "Borat" encounters several Americans on his trip, and is taught how to interact in their society and blend in as one of them, even though it is a vastly different country from his homeland. There were few actors used in the film as most of the people "Borat" meets are innocent American citizens who have no idea they are being mocked. Director Larry Charles found it difficult to film some scenes during the shoot:
    "It was more than uncomfortable, it was often extremely terrifying, but it was exciting at the same time. It was like robbing a bank -- you could get caught, you could get killed, but you might also get the money and get away, and so it was very exciting," said Larry Charles.
    Several comic geniuses were on hand to show support for "Da Ali G. Show" star, whose name was mentioned along with Charlie Chaplin, Andy Kaufman, and Mike Myers as one of the greatest comics of all time, unafraid to push the envelope.
    "Because he takes a look at us like it, you know, it seems like it's pretty real how other people would look at us. He's holding up the big mirror for us to see ourselves, I think," said actress and comic Roseanne, star of popular television sitcom "Roseanne."
    Baron Cohen has been popular in the United Kingdom since his character "Ali G." appeared on British TV in the late 1990s. His appearance in the Madonna video "Music" became his big break to a world-wide audience, and "Da Ali G Show" is hugely popular on American cable TV channel HBO. "Borat" was quick to give praise to the Material Girl:
    "We think, in my country, it is wonderful Madonna is so famous. It is wonderful, it shows the freedom of this country that you let a transvestite actually enter the world of singing. In my country they would put him in a circus."
    And across town at the Hollywood Film Festival Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Actor Ben Affleck told Reuters he can't wait to see "Borat," undoubtedly adding to the buzz already surrounding the film.
    "'Borat' is the movie that I can't wait to see, truly, honestly, I will be standing in line for Borat. I'll be sleeping in a tent," said Affleck, who won a Best Supporting Actor award at the Hollywood Film Festival Awards for "Hollywoodland."
    Kazakh officials have extended an invitation for Sacha Baron Cohen to see for himself that Kazakhstanis are kind and peaceful people who do not drink fermented horse urine and shoot dogs for fun, but in the meantime, the world will be entertained by a comic's view of that country, however inaccurate it may be.
    "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" opens November 3rd.
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