Great success or great lawsuit?

First of all, I will explain the premise of the film titled: “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.” Borat Sagdiyv is Kazakhstan’s leading journalist. He is sent to America and makes a documentary about American society and culture. He exploits his obsession with actress Pamela Anderson. Starting out in New York, he decides to cross the country and travel to California to marry Pamela Anderson.

It is no surprise to me this film has undergone harsh criticism and a few lawsuits (as of now).

This film was so disturbing. I watched “Borat” about two weeks ago, and discussed the film with my mother. Surprisingly, she had seen it! We were equally appalled at Borat’s mockery of American Culture (although sometimes true, presented in an extremely inappropriate manner). I can not believe this film was nominated for an Oscar.

In one instance of the film, he is at an etiquette dinner and excuses himself to use the restroom. He comes back with a bag of his feces and proceeds to set it on the dinner table. This is just one of the many outlandish behaviors that occur in the film.

The problem is, people such as the host of the etiquette dinner were not in on Borat or director Sasha Baron Cohen’s gag. Many are claiming to be misled by Sasha Baron Cohen regarding details of the film’s release (where it will be released and what purpose it is being created for).

Borat earned 27 million dollars, and Kazakhstan only received a measly three thousand dollars. Kazakhstan is portrayed as a poverty-stricken village. Its citizens in the film are full of male incestuous rapists and sexually liberal women. A grandfather in the village has pooled the funds together in order to sue filmmakers. In the film, Grandfather Nicu had only half an arm and Borat attached a rubber sex toy to it. He allegedly had no idea what the sex toy was at the time, and is deeply ashamed now (because Borat took advantage of the uneducated and poor hardships the country endures).

Many villagers were given the title of abortionist are very disturbed as well.

Also in “Borat” was a scene that included fraternity boys/college students. Borat and the college students begin watching the Pamela Anderson/Tommy Lee sex video and discuss how they treat women, and give Borat advice on how to ‘get’ women, etc. in America. Their response definitely caused damage and defamation to the boys. The response of the boys was not very becoming of them.
The fraternity boys are claiming they were coaxed into drinking alcohol before signing the film release agreements, and were told the film would only be released in the U.S.
The European Centre of Antiziganism Research even went so far as to take preventative measures so the film would not play in Germany!
I just think this movie is a great lesson in independent film – yes, stretch the boundaries of creativity and limits of linear editing. Independent films should test the limits and be risky –but be risky only until you reach the question of legalities!