Kazakhstan angry about Borat, will go to Bush about it

[Undertoad]

The finest news item of the day, IMO.

Daily Mail:

Cohen, 35, creator of Ali G, has infuriated the Kazakhstan government with his portrayal of Borat, a bumbling Kazakh TV presenter.

And now a movie of Borat's adventures in the US has caused a diplomatic incident.

The opening scene, which shows Borat lustily kissing his sister goodbye and setting off for America in a car pulled by a horse, had audiences in stitches when it was first shown last week.

But the film, which has just premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, has prompted a swift reaction from the Kazakhstan government, which is launching a PR blitz in the States.

Kazakhstan president Nursultan Nazarbayev is to fly to the US to meet President Bush in the coming weeks and on the agenda will be his country's image.

President Nazarbayev has confirmed his government will buy "educational" TV spots and print advertisements about the "real Kazakhstan" in a bid to save the country's reputation before the film is released in the US in November.

[Flint]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

The finest news item of the day, IMO.

It doesn't get any better than this. [/beer commercial]

[Spexxvet]

Isn't he British?

[Hippikos]

Didn´t he say: "There is land of opportunities in US of A. For man, construction work, taxi driving and accountancy. For woman, as a prostitute."

[Undertoad]

Sasha Baron Cohen, as Borat, responds to Kazakhstan's desire to sue him over Borat:

[wolf]

Sounds like now they have something worth suing him over.

[9th Engineer]

Oh let them whine, we don't get to sue every time someone mocks us or defaces our national image.

[Aliantha]

Personally, I can't stand the AliG character. Somebody should blow him up!

[xoxoxoBruce]

I don't care for him either, but blow him up? I'm not voting for you in the Queen of the world election, Aliantha.

[footfootfoot]

AliG may be hard to take, but Borat and Bruno are hilarious.

[9th Engineer]

AliG just does what every satire and commentary of its type do, take facts about a country that it would rather not be shouting to the world and blows them up into full view. Is it all truth? No. But it brings up Kazakhstans failure to modernize a great deal of its society. Good? Bad? That's personal opinion. Maybe instead of suing they should figure out WHY we find it so funny, we wouldn't be laughing if it made no sense.

[Aliantha]

Bruce...I didn't know I was up for nomination! How exciting!!!

[Undertoad]

White House Turns Borat Away

Secret Service agents turned away British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, in character as the boorish, anti-Semitic journalist, when he tried to invite "Premier George Walter Bush" to a screening of his upcoming movie, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."

Also invited to the screening: O.J. Simpson, "Mel Gibsons" and other "American dignitaries."

Cohen's stunt was timed to coincide with an official visit by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who is scheduled to meet with Bush Friday.
...
Shortly after Nazarbayev dedicated a statue in front of the Kazakh embassy, Borat denounced an official Kazakh publicity campaign running in U.S. magazines as "disgusting fabrications" orchestrated by neighboring Uzbekistan.

"If there is one more item of Uzbek propaganda claiming that we do not drink fermented horse urine, give death penalty for baking bagels, or export over 300 tons of human pubis per year, then we will be left with no alternative but to commence bombardment of their cities with our catapults," Borat said.

[glatt]

There was a cute little article about this in the Style section of the Post.

He held a "press conference" in front of the Kazakh embassy denouncing all those Kazakh ads (have other Dwellars seen them too?) that have been running, and then he announced that he was marching off to the White House next. Most of the reporters were ignoring him, until he mentioned the White House, and then a whole pack of reporters followed him to watch hilarity ensue. At the white house, he just talked to a guard for a while, mostly as show for the press, and then he left. He never broke character the entire time.

[Hippikos]

A statement from fictional Kazakh reporter Borat's D.C. press conference outside the Embassy of Kazakhstan:

"Jagshemash, my name Borat Sagdiyev. I would like to comment on recent advertisments on television and in media about my nation of Kazakhstan, saying that women are treated equally, and that all religions are tolerated — these are disgusting fabrications. These claims are part of a propoganda campaign against our country by evil nitwits Uzbekistan — who as we all know are a very nosey people, with a bone in the middle of their brain.

"There is a man name Roman Vasilenko who is claiming to be Press Secretary of Kazakhstan. Please do not listen this man, he is Uzbek imposter, and is currently being hunted by our agents. I must further say on behalf of my government, that if Uzbekistan do not desist from funding these attacks, then we will not rule out the possibility of military intervention. ...

"Furthermore, all claims that our glorious leader is displeased with my film, 'Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazahkstan' is lie. Infacts main purpose of Premier Nazharbayev's visit to Washingtons is to promote this moviefilm. This why together with Ministry of Information he will be hosting a screening tomorrow evening, to which he have invitate Premier George Walter Bush and other American dignitaries — Donald Rumsfeld, Bill Gates, O.J. Simpson and Mel Gibsons. This screening will be followed by cocktail party and a discussion of closer ties between our countries at Hooters, on 825 7th Street.

"Thank you, I must now return to Embassy where my government need me.

"Chenquieh"