Borat Banned?

My god, this is disgusting. Simply breathtaking hypocrisy! When Kazakhstan bans the film you condemn them as nation of crude barbarians and ridicule George Bush for praising them, but when Russia bans the film you state “No worry. The ban is sure to increase interest in the film. And I’m sure many Muscovites are already scooping up illegal DVD copies on sale at Gorbushka.” As if your comments about Kazakhstan had never been made! Well, one thing is for sure, this blog is definitely an accurate depiction of Russian hypocrisy.

One does feel for you, though. There you were trying to defend and rationalize Russia, and it goes and stabs you in the back. But it’s a big club, so don’t feel you’ve been singled out.

Interesting. I still maintain that Borat is more about making fun of ignorant Americans, than Kazakhs or Kazakhstan. Without the “straight men” for Borat’s character to interact with in the film, there is no joke. I think you can make a rather strong case that he is goofing on US, rather than goofing on THEM. Imagine other variations of this joke and how it would be played out. You have to use a character that is mostly or largely unfamiliar … or that is highly stereotypical … for the humor to work.

So now I am left wondering when Russia will ban Zadornov for “satirizing” the US …

Hi Kim.

Sean: Hmmm… I don’t see the alleged hypocrisy of your posts, nor do I recall you ever condemning Kazakhs as crude barbarians. But what else can we expect from la russophobe? I thought your blog wasn’t worth dear Kim’s time? I wish she had stayed true to that vow. I guess in her weird terminology this reversal would make her a “mendacious liar”? It’s all very breathtaking.

Actually the ban concerns only cinemas. So you can buy legal DVDs.

Can’t find the Borat DVD in Baku yet, though I already have Volver, The Departed, and the new Woody Allen (Scoop). So one of the first things I’m going to do after setting foot on American soil next week is head to the theater!

Can anyone explain to me what is so interesting in this movie to seemingly intelligent people like you? Sorry, my sense of humour doesn’t go below the waist line.

Also, I heard Goskino can only give recommendations to film distributors, it has no rights to block or ban the releases. So I doubt there’s any use to go to court.

P.S. I’m not Kim, I’m Anonymous #2.

I found Borat absolutely hilarious. I like this kind of guerrilla humor that is tradition of Andy Kaufman. Plus I have the sense of humor of a teenager.

On whether the movie was officially banned or not, this is where I was confused. I read in some articles that Goskino gave recommendations and the distributor decided not to run the movie, while in others stated that Goskino didn’t give a license for distribution. So yeah, I’m a bit confused as to what the real story is.

That frat boy case takes me back to my original point – who is spoofing who? Apparently the frat boys feel they are the joke. Frankly, I agree.

And what is the harm in making fun of drunken, ignorant, conformist frat boys?

You’re right Wally. All the people who think this is about Kazakhstan doesn’t get it. It’s really about ridiculing and satirizing Americans both in the movie and in the audience. The frat boys, set up or not, got caught with their true colors on display and now they are “offended.”

I happen to think that the movie and Borat in general is a great expose on American race and tolerance.

Some disagreement.

Russia is supposedly becoming increasingly bigoted. So, the Russian government mutes (IMHO)a stupidly bigoted flick.

I’m all for good, clean ethnic humor, which is intelligently fair.

Borat shows little if any knowledge of his target (Kazakhstan). Come to think of it, Borat carries on like some in the American foreign policy establishment

Much unlike Dave Chappelle and All in the Family.

Let me add the continued and non-discussed English language mass media banning of Russocentric pundits.

Pankin and Kagarlitsky are no Russocentric counterweights to the Gessens, Latyninas, Felgenhauers and Albats.

I thank Global Voices and Russia Blog for carrying my latest article which can be accessed via the link at my name.

Wondering why JRL and RP haven’t picked it up (at least as of now).

So Mike .. is Zadornov stupidly bigoted when he makes his jokes about the ignorance and obesity of Americans? Or is he just peddling Russian stereotypes (of Americans, Jews, and Russians) back to his audience? You’ve remarked on Dave Chappelle. I think much of his humor might also be considered bigoted, except for the fact he takes on whites, blacks, and himself. No target is safe.

The fact is Borat only works in a vacuum of knowledge about Kazakhstan. And he uses that lack of knowledge to ridicule his unwitting straight men. The only thing I worry about is people taking his character of Borat too literally. Certainly some truly foolish people will not get 100% of the joke. But given the extent of media coverage on his character and the attention it has given Kazakhstan, I think that chance is greatly reduced.

All comedy says more about the audience than the performers. Certainly you can make a case that Borat is a distant cousin to a minstrel show. The difference in my mind is that the “minstrel” is interacting with a live audience (as straight men) and the behavior of the live audience in itself becomes the comedy.

Wally:

Chappelle shows a knowledge of his ethnic targets. Much like All in the Family. Both are reasonably equal opportunity like in their jabs.

Borat doesn’t do likewise (the knowledge part) vis-a-vis Kazakhstan. It’s an unsophisticated “humor” which is especially insulting because it shows such an ignorance of the target.

I’m not familiar with the mentioned Z person.

There’s some great ethnic humor (IMHO) at the link by my name in this post.

After seeing interviews of Borat by Jay Leno and Conan o’Brian in their respected TV-shows, I’m fully convinced that for the majority of US citizens this is a film that makes fun of Kazakhstan, not the US. Which is logical, otherwise it wouldn’t get such high ratings in the US.
But I totally agree – Borat intentionally insults an existing country whether he has any knowledge of it or not. Sadly, most people (at least in US) will believe him and have this idiotic vision of Kazakhstan (and other countries of that area with similar names) throughout their life. Which is in any case how most Americans view foreign countries (third world?).

Anonymous #2