Borat spoof film banned in Russia

BBC ^ | 11/09/2006

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

Russia has banned the hit comedy film, Borat, which has been accused of poking fun at Moscow's neighbour and close ally Kazakhstan.

The film stars British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen as a spoof reporter on a trip to the US.

A senior official at Russia's culture ministry has told the BBC it will not provide a distribution licence.

The film has described as a "mockumentary" which follows Mr Cohen's travel across the US.

On the way, he has a series of real life encounters with unsuspecting Americans in which he makes the most outrageous, sexist, racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic comments.

'Not amused'

It has proved to be a big hit in the US and Europe, where it opened last weekend.

Some reviewers have described it as "hysterical" and "the funniest film of the year".

But there are others, not least the government of Kazakhstan who say it is deeply offensive.

One Kazakh diplomat says that the depiction of his country as violent, primitive and oppressive bears no resemblance to reality.

And it seems the Russian authorities are also not amused.

A culture ministry official in Moscow told the BBC it had refused to issue a distribution licence because the film could potentially humiliate different ethnic groups and religions.

The official would not give any further details, except to say the distributors had the right to appeal against the government's decision.

[struwwelpeter]

...settles the question of barbarity and primitivism once and for all

But at least the arts have not suffered! ;-)

[GSlob]

Barbarity is a civilizational phenomenon, i.e. it occurs in the sociological sphere. Arts belong to the cultural sphere - and these spheres are clean different. The most primitive and barbaric Stone Age tribe could happen to have a great dancer or a singer - and this fact would not stop it from being barbaric. To put it pithily, poet Pushkin belongs to, and to a large extent defines, the culture but does not belong to the civilization; his contemporary [BTW, semi-literate, per Leo Tolstoy] despot Nicholas I belongs to, and to a large extent defines, the civilization, but does not belong to the culture.
And such soc/realist "art" is properly to be classed as "entartete Kunst", and treated accordingly, by being dumped in a toilet from # 50.

[GarySpFc]

The photo in # 50 settles the question of barbarity and primitivism once and for all.

Oh nonsense! There are many business and homes in Russia where there are very clean toilets. You really need to get that chip off your shoulder, and take a trip back to see how far the country has progressed. It's nothing like it was when you left in 1981. Yes, there are vestiges of communism, but for he most part everything has changed. I have been going there since 2000, and notice big improvements every trip.

[panaxanax]

I see you are STILL spouting about how great and modern Russia is. We had "words" about this over a year ago. You love Russia and always seem to come to it's defense. Lots of us here were hoping that you had moved back.

[toddlintown]

I married into a Lithuanian family 35 years ago.

I've known 50 Borats since then.

[toddlintown]

My parenta visited me when I lived in Europe 35 years ago. He was fascinated with the "diversity" of plumbing arrangements and took more pictures of crappers than European sights.

[Former Proud Canadian]

RE post 47: I don't get it.

[GarySpFc]

I see you are STILL spouting about how great and modern Russia is. We had "words" about this over a year ago. You love Russia and always seem to come to it's defense. Lots of us here were hoping that you had moved back.

Firstly, I have never lived in Russia, but then that does not fit with your lie.

Secondly, if you scroll up you will see I also had strong words about toilets in Russia.
Thirdly, Jim Robinson has been given evidence as to my conservative credentials, and he is satisfied.
Fourthly, Russia is not the land of milk and honey, but neither is it the evil monster as portrayed by the conspiracy theorists who sprout the "Fall of the Iron Curtain was a KGB plot."
Fifthly, it was your ilk who were defending the Chechens as being the good guys against the evil Russians in the past on Free Republic. At that time I maintained the Chechens were lead and trained by al-Qaeda, and JR was notified. Since that time it has been confirmed by the American government.

[panaxanax]

So you're saying you didn't come to jb6's defense and attack me when you both claimed how great and prosperous the Russian people are and how their leadership has brought about both?

Sorry, I got you confused with jb6 and moving to Russia to work. My mistake, it was a long time ago.

"...it was your ilk who were defending the Chechens as being the good guys against the evil Russians in the past on Free Republic.

WTF are you drinking...vodka w/coffee? Please post any reference by me defending Chechens!

FYI, Your comments of support for the great Russian economy can be found at:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1440314/posts

[GSlob]

Shove your bear
Up your rear
And keep it thear

[GarySpFc]

So you're saying you didn't come to jb6's defense and attack me when you both claimed how great and prosperous the Russian people are and how their leadership has brought about both?

I would like to suggest everyone go to the link you provided and look at both of our comments.

Sorry, I got you confused with jb6 and moving to Russia to work. My mistake, it was a long time ago.

JB6 not only did not move to Russia, but now works for a large American defense contractor. Furthermore, he was a major in the American Army and served in Bosnia. He also served as a military attache to Georgia.

You were making ignorant remarks such as, Why, just think how close we all could become by sharing the toilet paper and splitting our dinner (a potato) with the one you love.And, reponses to JB6 ".....Ford and Chrystel (?) SUVs are popular there...." And what percentage of the average Russian citizen can actually own one? You forgot to add that they all drive new SUV's and live in million dollar estates!

"...it was your ilk who were defending the Chechens as being the good guys against the evil Russians in the past on Free Republic."

WTF are you drinking...vodka w/coffee? Please post any reference by me defending Chechens!

Go to the dictionary and look up the word "ilk."

FYI, Your comments of support for the great Russian economy can be found at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1440314/posts

Once again, I challange everyone to look at our remarks. If you had traveled to Russia in recent years, then you would realize their economy is booming. They have major traffic jams in Moscow, which would compare to most in the States. In other cities the traffic is heavy at rush hour. You do see many SUVs from various countries. Indeed, you will see Ford Explorers, Expeditions, Naivgators, Jeeps, Mercedes, etc. Almost all of my wife's family have cars, and they are just average Russias. Russia has many new shopping centers, which compare to most in the Staes. Park House shopping malls are but one example. Large stores similar to Sam's and Costco have been built in large and medium size cities. As an example Volgograd has several such stores. The Russian economy has been growing at 7% for several years. May I suggest you take a look at the mutual funds LETRX and TMRFX and their rate of return the last few years.

[GSlob]

Well, see # 60. Truly the crappers are the face of the country, telling about its people and how they live their everyday lives [in a crappy aspect of these lives] much more than one could gather from official landmarks, events and pronouncements.

[struwwelpeter]

"Itisareligionofpeace" asked "GSlob": No TP? What do they use?, so I posted a label from a semi-popular brand ;-)

Here's another:


"Kohabinka toilet paper - an ecologically pure product - decorates any place"

It wasn't meant to be racist, but to show how some Russia companies are still a bit behind the PC curve.

Smile ;-)

If I was really being nasty, I'd have posted some Austrian dark beer labels.

[M. Espinola]

Who is Borat?

[GarySpFc]

I've been in many countries, and seen both good and bad crappers. While it is true there are some bad ones in Russia, to equate them with the worst simply is not reality.

[GSlob]

You have quite a photo gallery here. Thanks for sharing it with fellow FReepers - it is extremely educational, especially for those who could not have even imagined it otherwise. Thanks again.

[struwwelpeter]

The pictures I posted were all from Ukraine, except for the roadside outhouse that in all fairness is not very typical of Kazakhstan, either. I'm sure someone could come up with a US gas station restroom that is just as scary.

I haven't been to Russia in a couple of years, but most people I knew there were spending a lot of money at the local versions of Home Depot to do "Yevroremonty" (European-style) renovations. In the two to four-room apartments, they would knock out the wall between the toilet and bathtub, lay tile, and put in modern bathtubs and stools. Even bidets.

I had an apartment in Kyiv which put my 2500-DM Frankfurt apartment to shame, and at 1/10th the price.

[GarySpFc]

I haven't been to Russia in a couple of years, but most people I knew there were spending a lot of money at the local versions of Home Depot to do "Yevroremonty" (European-style) renovations. In the two to four-room apartments, they would knock out the wall between the toilet and bathtub, lay tile, and put in modern bathtubs and stools. Even bidets.

It's ironic you should mention the renovations, but that is exactly what we did when we purchased our apartment in Volzhsky 3 years ago. There was a problem, which came up after the fact. It some cases the structure of the building has been affected, and the owner has to correct the problem. We had to submit plans, which was a hassle, and pay a small fine. I was not able to find the pictures I have of the changes we made, without digging through hundreds of pictures in a drawer, but I did find one which will show the quality of the tile work.

[G8 Diplomat]

Since when is Kazakhstan a "close ally" of Russia?

[struwwelpeter]

What a cutie ;-)

Here's my bathtub in Kyiv, last spring ('06):

It was a nice place, but being a 'panel'niy dom' (made of pre-fab sections) it was noisy. If someone three stairwells over was doing renovations, the whole building didn't sleep.

And from Karaganda (KZ), last fall ('05):

It was nice and quiet, but only after 2 AM when the cafe across the street closed. Still not quite Euro, but clean and serviceable, when the hot water would make it to the top floor ;-)

What really was awesome was the Soviet-era washing machine. You had to manually add the water, or use a hose into the washing compartment, then remove them and put them in a coffee-can sized centrifuge to dry. I got better results, however, just washing things in the bathtub.