Monday, October 16, 2006

BORAT CAUSES A STIR IN AMSTERDAM


One of the nice things about writing Diary From England is the number of friends I’ve made amongst fellow bloggers. I’d like to dedicate this post to Sheila
  • Alabama Kitchen Sink
  • If you get a chance go over and have a look at her blog. Sheila is a nice Southern lady and a very talented writer and designer, who was asking me about Sacha Baron Cohen.

    Sacha Baron Cohen aka Borat and Ali G was in Amsterdam last week promoting his latest film, “Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan”. Sacha in the guise of his alter ego Borat managed to embarrass the girls of Amsterdam’s red light district, leaving nothing to the imagination, as he posed with them wearing a skimpy g-string.

    The controversial star has come under fire from the Kazakhstan government who claim he has made their country a laughing stock. The Kazakhstan government is so afraid of what people will think of their country after seeing the movie that they have produced television adverts showing scenes of picturesque countryside and modern cities in Kazakh. Sacha has also been banned from the White House and the Kazakh ambassador to Britain has branded him a "racist, chauvinistic pig".

    I know many people in Britain find Sacha’s characters of Borat and Ali G offensive but I personally think you have to take what he says in the humour with which it’s intended. The thing that makes Sacha Baron Cohen even more amusing is the fact that he’s not “politically correct” and seems to get away with saying all sorts of things in the guises of both Ali G and Borat! I think that’s one of the secrets behind his popularity.

    Sacha Baron Cohen’s career is going from strength to strength. He is popular in the U.S. and currently in negotiations to star opposite Johnny Depp in Tim Burton’s big screen version of the musical “Sweeney Todd”. Love him or hate him, Sacha Baron Cohen is laughing all the way to the bank!

    1 comment:

    Sheila said...

    Good post, Naomi. Thanks for the mention. I'll link to you too tomorrow when I write. I found your ambassador's labels pretty accurate. Borat is offensive and all of Sacha's characters are. That's what makes him charming in a perverted way. He is not serious, you people. When we focus on such serious matters most of the time, isn't it ok to realize how easily taken we all can be?