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I also enjoyed the preview for *Casino Royale*
Posted by Tyler Cowen on November 3, 2006 at 09:27 PM in Film | Permalink
Comments
The Borat movie had at least two interesting social themes. First, however negative the portrait of America might appear at first glance, it is ultimately affectionate. America is a strong nation, a free nation, and above all a diverse nation. We do see, however, that a partial provincialism is the price of this diversity, as in Kazakhstan. Second, the movie portrays the persistence of diversity and the superficiality of many globalizing trends. Check out the last scene with the white suit and the iPod. The humor aside, this was an insightful movie about how and why people stay provincial.
Posted by: Tyler Cowen at Nov 4, 2006 8:09:22 AM
Where is the picture taken? Is it from the movie?
Posted by: Yan Li at Nov 4, 2006 9:26:41 AM
The picture is labeled "Astana." Google will lead you home.
Posted by: Dylan at Nov 4, 2006 9:55:58 AM
Kazakhstan is now as civilized as any other country in the world.
woman can now travel inside the bus; homosexuals do not have to wear blue hat any more;
Posted by: Sl at Nov 6, 2006 10:46:34 AM
I can laugh at the rednecks, elitists and born-agains who are exposed as bigots and parodied by Borat.
My ancestors in Russia and Poland did not have the luxury of laughing at anti-Semitism.
Posted by: Joe Grossberg at Nov 6, 2006 12:54:41 PM
Ooh. Good one, Joe. The question is, would you be bitter if they laughted at a movie made to poke fun at you?
Posted by: d.cous. at Nov 6, 2006 1:17:39 PM
d. cous:
No, I quite enjoy literature ("Portnoy's Complaint"), television ("Curb Your Enthusiasm") and film ("Annie Hall") that makes light of the Jewish psyche.
(I readily admit it is an imperfect comparison, because Borat is an original comedic format.)
In any case, I find it hard to be sympatheic to cowboys who'd like to lynch all homosexuals or drunken frat boys who view Russia as a font of sluts, and then express these views on camera to a total stranger.
If their portrayal is unflatteringly edited, so be it.
Posted by: Joe Grossberg at Nov 6, 2006 4:32:18 PM
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