Nov
5
2006
Borat
Author:A film exploiting poorly misunderstood cultural differences shouldn’t make me giggle, yet I found myself laughing hysterically every other minute while watching Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.
Read about how Borat hoaxed America here.
The film succeeds because no one featured in the film, save Cohen, his co-star Ken Davitian and the crew, knew they were being filmed for a real American movie. All of the people aside from the two actors waived the right to their public image under the assumption that this was a documentary about America to be shown in Kazakhstan.
Although tactics used were deceptive and dishonest, the end result of a shocking frank and honest look not at the culture in Kazakhstan, but at American culture, revealing the unspoken, seedy undertones of how some people really feel. Because some of the subjects believe Borat to be a morally backwards foreigner, they let slip their own racist, sexist and homophobic comments. In the end, the deeper meaning remains: which nation is more backwards and morally bereft?
But, deeper analysis aside, this movie is funnier than say, all Austen Power flicks combined. Cohen is master of slapstick comedy and comedic improvisation. I like very much Borat film and definately recommend shelling over ten bucks to see it.
