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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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 Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 6:39 am Post subject: In Romanian village, Borat's name is mud |
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In Romanian village, Borat's name is mud
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 | 9:27 AM ET
CBC Arts
Residents of a remote Romanian village have joined the backlash against Sacha Baron Cohen's hit movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.
Villagers in Glod, Romanian for "mud," are threatening to sue the film's producers for paying them a pittance to stand in for a Kazahk village in the movie.
They say they are horrified and humiliated after learning the movie ridicules their abject poverty and simple ways.
The residents say filmmakers got them to put farm animals in their homes and perform other crude antics.
"We thought they came here to help us � not mock us," said Dana Luca, 40.
[I am sure Borat must be funny, but do you think he is exploiting and deceiving people. Does it matter? No one seems to object except the exploited.]
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2006/11/15/borat-glod.html |
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candide
Joined: 03 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 7:19 am Post subject: |
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| If people viewing the movie are under the impression that it is a Kazahk village, how exactly are the Romanians being mocked? |
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Summer Wine
Joined: 20 Mar 2005
Location: Next to a River
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:22 am Post subject: |
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If people viewing the movie are under the impression that it is a Kazahk village, how exactly are the Romanians being mocked?
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Through their exploitation by the film producers. |
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TheFonz
Joined: 01 Dec 2005
Location: North Georgia
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:30 am Post subject: |
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| If I was one of the random people shown in the film I would sue also. Cohan's main joke is initiating a reaction to his charachter Borat. I imagine not everyone in the film signed a waiver. If I was one of those people I would sue. Even if I did sign a waiver I would try to sue. In a way its only fair that the people featured in the film get part of the money. Borat would be boring if it wasn't paired with the reaction. That is why the other Ali G movie was such a flop. Because no one was getting duped. |
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ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 3:33 pm Post subject: |
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| [I am sure Borat must be funny, but do you think he is exploiting and deceiving people. Does it matter? No one seems to object except the exploited.] |
I watched the movie last night. Tasteless and really just a "jock" , "red neck" movie, for all those who really haven't traveled much and want to view the world in stereotype.
His jokes and manner get tiring after having to watch for the nth time, him pull at his croch or stammer and rub his moustache. Never mind all the coarse sexual language which only adds to the "dumb" effect.
I also didn't like his stereotype of the "dumb" immigrant. We don't need more of that and he is just playing to the crowd that wants to see cultural difference, as that.
Further, how can anyone watch the movie and NOT KNOW it is a Romanian/Bulgarian/Slovak village? NOT Kazakhstan. I guess anyone in the netherland of the U.S. who really only views the world through the simple notions of what they are fed.
Truly , more than anything , this movie is a call to many Americans to start getting educated about the world, know more about other cultures and pay more respect to them OTHER THAN characatures. Rather, as human beings.
I didn't get this movie at all......glad I didn't .
DD |
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Thunndarr
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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| ddeubel wrote: |
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| [I am sure Borat must be funny, but do you think he is exploiting and deceiving people. Does it matter? No one seems to object except the exploited.] |
I watched the movie last night. Tasteless and really just a "jock" , "red neck" movie, for all those who really haven't traveled much and want to view the world in stereotype.
His jokes and manner get tiring after having to watch for the nth time, him pull at his croch or stammer and rub his moustache. Never mind all the coarse sexual language which only adds to the "dumb" effect.
I also didn't like his stereotype of the "dumb" immigrant. We don't need more of that and he is just playing to the crowd that wants to see cultural difference, as that.
Further, how can anyone watch the movie and NOT KNOW it is a Romanian/Bulgarian/Slovak village? NOT Kazakhstan. I guess anyone in the netherland of the U.S. who really only views the world through the simple notions of what they are fed.
Truly , more than anything , this movie is a call to many Americans to start getting educated about the world, know more about other cultures and pay more respect to them OTHER THAN characatures. Rather, as human beings.
I didn't get this movie at all......glad I didn't .
DD |
Yeah, blame the Americans for the antics of a British comedian! Down with the Americans! |
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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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dd is just a royal wannabe elite douch.
The movie was quite funny. |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Now, if the movie portrayed Americans in such a fashion, would Americans be amused? What if Mr. Cohen made fun of Jews or Arabs? I don't think people would want to distribute the movie. That should give people pause. I am not sure what is redeeming about making fun of people of Kazakhstan and slandering them in order to make a profit. I think, in a way, it sends a bad message. It is part of the sign of the times to be outrageous no matter the social cost. I am sure I might find the movie funny, too, but I am questioning whether I should support such a movie which, in a way, is engaging in cultural bullying. I may sound like a prude here, I know, but I am not sure this movie is good. I am sure if we substituted Kazakhs with African Americans we might have riots in the U.S. in some areas. If that would be the case, then it wouldn't be right to do it to Kazakhs just because they are a "safe" group to do that to. |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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look, kazakhstan was just chosen randomly. If you think Borat really reflects Kazakhs or is intended to, you need to lighten up. I think one of the messages of the movie is we're all crass and offensive; some are just more obvious than others. Part of the purpose of Borat is to put others at ease and to let down their guard. It worked on a lot of people as the movie shows. He chose Kazakhstan because hardly anyone in the west has heard of it. If he had chosen to be an African American, people would have immediatly picked up that he was an actor and pulling their leg. Hell, had he been Mexican, ditto.
If you focus so much on Borat, you're missing out on what really is offensive and scary: a large number of people he interacts with. |
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mateomiguel
Joined: 16 May 2005
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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there already ARE movies that portray subsets of the American people as retards. And they're pretty dam.n funny too!
As the great scholar said, if you can't laugh at yourself, you will probably die of a heart attack at age 45. |
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ddeubel
Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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| If you focus so much on Borat, you're missing out on what really is offensive and scary: a large number of people he interacts with. |
I tried to watch the movie in this spirit. I do believe this kind of backhanded satire can work.
Borat just doesn't pull it off, because he relies mostly on stupid, childish, prankish humour. Some scenes did approach the point of revealing the audience's shortcomings -- like the scene at the rodeo. But he took it too far and it just came across as stupid, rude........
I would have a lot of anger if I were from eastern Europe. His accent, demeanour, the start of the movie, all point towards their culture and society (not Kazakhstan). I spent a large chunk of my life in that part of the world and I'd be hopping mad about this......
I think as Adventurer alluded to, this is just a sign of the times -- a sad statement to the fact that the many in the world want to see others as subhuman, stupid, dirty, drunken or whatever and get puffed up in the thought that they are "clean". Ignorance it is.
Makes me wonder who the world is getting "smaller" , as so many say....seems it is just maintaining its stupidity more than anything....
DD
PS. I can laugh but not at the expense of my sensitivity towards others... |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
| Now, if the movie portrayed Americans in such a fashion, would Americans be amused? What if Mr. Cohen made fun of Jews or Arabs? I don't think people would want to distribute the movie. That should give people pause. I am not sure what is redeeming about making fun of people of Kazakhstan and slandering them in order to make a profit. I think, in a way, it sends a bad message. It is part of the sign of the times to be outrageous no matter the social cost. I am sure I might find the movie funny, too, but I am questioning whether I should support such a movie which, in a way, is engaging in cultural bullying. I may sound like a prude here, I know, but I am not sure this movie is good. I am sure if we substituted Kazakhs with African Americans we might have riots in the U.S. in some areas. If that would be the case, then it wouldn't be right to do it to Kazakhs just because they are a "safe" group to do that to. |
To reinforce BB's response, I don't think Borat is being insensitive to anyone besides a) Americans, b) the people of that village in Romania. As an American, I support his right to expose many of us as anti-semites/ignoramus should we choose to act that way. But I think as far as the movie treated the people in the Romanian village, it was over the line.
And lastly, there are movies out there portraying Americans in a worse fashion than Borat is supposedly portraying Kazakhstanis. I just choose to vote with my dollar and not try to see them.
| Quote: |
| Borat just doesn't pull it off, because he relies mostly on stupid, childish, prankish humour. Some scenes did approach the point of revealing the audience's shortcomings -- like the scene at the rodeo. But he took it too far and it just came across as stupid, rude.. |
I bolded that which I thought was the spot on weakness of the movie. Criticize the movie on it's level. Sasha Cohen's not gonna care if you think he's insensitive, but if you think he's not very funny, well... |
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Hans Blix
Joined: 31 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:27 am Post subject: |
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| bucheon bum wrote: |
look, kazakhstan was just chosen randomly. If you think Borat really reflects Kazakhs or is intended to, you need to lighten up. I think one of the messages of the movie is we're all crass and offensive; some are just more obvious than others. Part of the purpose of Borat is to put others at ease and to let down their guard. It worked on a lot of people as the movie shows. He chose Kazakhstan because hardly anyone in the west has heard of it. If he had chosen to be an African American, people would have immediatly picked up that he was an actor and pulling their leg. Hell, had he been Mexican, ditto.
If you focus so much on Borat, you're missing out on what really is offensive and scary: a large number of people he interacts with. |
never been quite sure about this. sure, he uses his guise to expose some idiots for the racist/homophobic/whatever coqs that they are, but these are not his only targets. doesn't he also go for the educated leftists just to shock them? that he represents a 'kazakhstanian' has to come into play in these cases.
some related trivia: i was chatting with a woman from kyrgystan (kazakhstan's neighbour) the other night, who didn't find him too impressive - she seemed, well, cutely patriotic in the same way koreans do (i'd say that for a guy, too). i was told by her dutch boyfriend who had lived in kazakhstan that he was fully convinced the locals were serious when they said they'd kill cohen if he ever set foot in the country. |
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dulouz
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Location: Uranus
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| Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:52 am Post subject: |
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Baron Cohen[2] was born in Hammersmith, London, England[1] to an Orthodox Jewish family.[3] He is the second of three sons of Gerald Baron Cohen and Daniella Weiser; his father owns a menswear shop in Piccadilly and is originally from Wales, while his mother is an Israeli of Persian heritage.[4][5][6][7]
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You know those awful things anti-semites say about Jewish people? Many of them have credibility when it comes to Sacha Baron Cohen. |
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Thunndarr
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 4:00 am Post subject: |
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| dulouz wrote: |
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Baron Cohen[2] was born in Hammersmith, London, England[1] to an Orthodox Jewish family.[3] He is the second of three sons of Gerald Baron Cohen and Daniella Weiser; his father owns a menswear shop in Piccadilly and is originally from Wales, while his mother is an Israeli of Persian heritage.[4][5][6][7]
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You know those awful things anti-semites say about Jewish people? Many of them have credibility when it comes to Sacha Baron Cohen. |
You're awesome! |
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