'Borat' prompts Kazakhstan to seek new image

janbo1960 · Joined: 29 Apr 2006

The World Today - Tuesday, 26 September , 2006 12:50:00
Reporter: Barney Porter
PETER CAVE: The central Asian dictatorship of Kazakhstan has had enough of the man who has become its most famous citizen - the comic character Borat, product of British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.

After threatening to sue Cohen for portraying their country as peopled by backward buffoons, the Kazakh Government has now decided to hit back with a movie about its glorious past, fighting off the Mongol invaders.

But it's unlikely to top Borat's own first feature film, as Barney Porter reports.

BORAT: Jak si? masz? (Polish for "How are you?") My name a Borat. I journalist for Kazakhstan. My government send me to US and A to make a movie film. Please, you look.

BARNEY PORTER: Borat Sagdiyev has been around for a while, first appearing on The Ali G Show.

And now he's the star of an American-made film by Sacha Baron Cohen called Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

It's receiving rave reviews at early screenings, and is set to premiere in Britain next month.

BORAT: Although Kazakstan is glorious country, it have problem too. This why Ministry of Information have decided to send me to US and A to learn a lessons for Kazakhstan.

I go to America!

(Sound of cheering)

BARNEY PORTER: But constantly irritated by the Borat character, the film has struck a raw nerve with Kazak authorities.

So much so, that the government is spending more than $50 million to create its own film featuring an 18th century Kazakh warrior named Mansur, who's on a mission of courage and romance to united the Kazakh tribes and free them from the invaders from Mongolia.

Senior Kazak diplomat, Roman Vassilenko, has defended his country in an interview with the BBC.

ROMAN VASSILENKO: I can tell that what Borat presents in his movie is not Kazakhstan. And it's... we can call is Borat-istan or something.

People in their sane minds would know that a real country cannot be like that.

REPORTER: So the people of Kazakhstan have got over Borat?

ROMAN VASSILENKO: We have mixed feelings.

BARNEY PORTER: Cohen has lapped up the attention, with the anti-Semitic Borat responding directly to the criticisms.

BORAT: Jak si? masz? In response to Mr Ashykbayev's comments, I'd like to state I have no connection with Mr Cohen and fully support my government's decision to sue this Jew.

Since the 2003 Tuleyakiv reforms, Kazakhstan is as civilized as any other country in the world. Women can now travel on inside of bus, homosexuals no longer have to wear blue hats, and age of consent has been raised to eight-years-old.

BARNEY PORTER: Cohen arrived at the recent Toronto Film Festival in the role of Kazak's special correspondent-at-large, towed by women dressed as peasants.

While the film wasn't shown for "technical reasons", Borat was able to answer questions from the audience.

BORAT: Next question, please.

MODERATOR: The next question we have is, okay, it's been said that your country is oppressive. What do you say about that?

BORAT: Uh... yes.

(Sound of laughter)

Thank you very much.

BARNEY PORTER: Since its creation after the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, the real Kazakhstan has been ruled by Nursultan Nazarbayev, who was re-elected last year with 91 per cent of the vote, despite criticisms by monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

President Nazarbayev's administration has also been criticised for human rights abuses.

And he sees no funny side to film about Borat, threatening to complain bitterly about the American made movie when he arrives in Washington for a state visit later this week.

But it's likely neither Cohen nor Borat will mind, going by the adage it's better to be talked about, rather than not be talked about.

And Borat is still keen to attract visitors to Kazakhstan in his own way.

BORAT: Please, captain of industry, I invite you to come to Kazakhstan where we have incredible natural resources, hard-working labour and some of the cleanest prostitutes in whole of central Asia.

BARNEY PORTER: He's also revealed he has personal reasons to encourage movie-goers.

BORAT: You come see my film. If it not success, I will be execute.

PETER CAVE: The ABC should hire that man. Sacha Baron Cohen, alias Borat, Kazakhstan's special correspondent-at-large, ending Barney Porter's report.

faceless · admin Joined: 25 Apr 2006

haha good old Borat - he's creating a revolution!

IRiSHMaFIA · Admin Joined: 29 Apr 2006

I noticed in the last couple days they've been airing ads on tv to promote Kazakhstan. At first I thought it was a joke but they're actually serious.

I found out they're being shown because the Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan was going to Washington, and he's aggrivated with Sacha Baron-Cohen's claims of representing the country.

The ad itself is worthy of humour. It's not your normal tourism ad where they show the best bits of the country, and if it is their best bits then they've not a snowballs chance in hell of getting anyone to go there. It looks hellish!

janbo1960 · Joined: 29 Apr 2006

I bet they're not a very bonnie lot!!!!

IRiSHMaFIA · Admin Joined: 29 Apr 2006

Kezza · Gone To The Dogs! Joined: 30 Apr 2006

In defense of Mr. Cohen:

He is brilliant as the openly gay French race car driver, Jean, in the latest Will Ferrell movie, "Talledega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby." We pissed ourselves laughing during this movie...highly recommended if you liked "Old School."