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The Real Borat?
Is our beloved Borat a thief? That's the question that a lot of news sites are now asking following the complaints of a Turkish comedian whose shtick is eerily familiar to the Kazakhstan goofball played by Brit comedian Sascha Baron Cohen. Mahir Cagri says that he is completely sure that he was the inspiration for Borat, that he's hoofing it to London to...well, try and get some money our of it. Ah capitalism. But there is some rather intriguing evidence to back up his claim. To wit: back in 1999, before anyone had heard of Borat, let alone Ali G, Cagri became celebrity online after posting "unintentionally" amusing photos of himself playing ping pong, the accordion and sunbathing in a skimpy bathing suit. Not the stretchy day-glow nut-hugger suit that Borat wears, but then again, perhaps that suit has not been invented yet. He was also known for his broken, albeit charming approach to women: "Who is want to come TURKEY I can invitate ... She can stay my home." You have to admit, it sounds a lot like our little Borat.
But, of course, if anyone who thinks they're being somehow imitated can get money for that is another question entirely. I don't know the details exactly, but I do know that the guy upon whom the Kramer character is based in Seinfeld tried to get some compensation for that fact....and didn't....although I think he's leading tours in the city or something. So perhaps if all else fails the "real" Borat can maybe buy himself a bus.
(thanks Karen!)
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Asia, Europe, Turkey, Video
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Mark Nov 13th 2006 9:42AM
@ 10 Constance, I haven't seen the movie so I was wondering which pornographic scenes did Borat demean. I hope they weren't any of the classics. Also, what type of band do you think Borat should start. I'm thinking heavy metal.
Mike Nov 12th 2006 7:38PM
I have a question for Michael from post #6. Michael, have you been to the United States or met every American? I think it is unfair to make such a general comment about a nationality or culture, such as you comment about Americans. Would it be fair to say all French are snobish or all Poilish are stupid; NO I would not make a dumb comment like that, it would be unfair. Perhaps you should think before you speak next time.
bart g. tubalinal Nov 12th 2006 8:02PM
In Tagalog (Filipino language), "Borat" is such a vulgar term for adult man's penis. It is a considered a street language. For instance, "Borat mo", literally "your penis" is an expression that connotes a strong dissent against someone's opinion.
Bart
bart g. tubalinal Nov 12th 2006 8:03PM
In Tagalog (Filipino language), "Borat" is such a vulgar term for adult man's penis. It is a considered a street language. For instance, "Borat mo", literally "your penis" is an expression that connotes a strong dissent against someone's opinion.
Bart
Rebekka Nov 12th 2006 11:03PM
I get the jokes just fine..I enjoy off-colour humour, but his act isn't funny. When a whole country asks a comedian to please stop, or at the very least, stay out of the country, and he completely disregards that, he is showing he is just using 'comedy' as a title, and cover-up, for his hatred. Any other comedian would have respected the request realising it isn't being seen as funny anymore.
michael Nov 13th 2006 2:00AM
Setting the Borat issue straight on Behalf of Kazakhstan
Like millions of Americans I have seen the Borat movie but unlike many I have been to Kazakhstan -- also spelled Kazakstan -- and I want to set the record straight. Kazakhstan is a wonderful country with customs that are both foreign and familiar to ours. In fact, there are many things I would take back to America. Borat (Sasha Cohen) has made this country look like it is populated with nothing but slovenly, unwashed, immoral, uneducated people – this is almost completely false in my experience. No, they don’t have an Ivy League educational system but these people for the most part are good-hearted and, if not well-read by our American standards, they do love storytelling. They ritually gather at village centers – usually this is where bartering and exchanges are conducted for food and services - and they share their knowledge by applying the oral tradition (please let’s not lower ourselves to the Boratian ‘oral’ jokes here). Yes, their technology is not at the state where ours is yet so they compensate with conversation, face to face. I’d actually like to see more of this in our world versus the faceless interchange of the internet. We might be a happier people. This helps their families stay close – and, again to refute Borat’s incest insinuations, this is not a national sport and I saw very little there to give one pause to consider it is more than a rare occurrence which is indeed not looked well upon even in the most rural stretches. These are a happy people with great values. No, Borat, they do not make their 8 year old children work by force. And women can vote in all elections. Legal age to wed is up to the families themselves. They are not a race of anti-Semites - they have a small Jewish population of over 170 who are situated by their own free will to live in a ghetto. But this is common: America and the world are replete with communities where people of similar backgrounds and mindsets gather and create neighborhoods – we have all been to Chinatown, Little Italy, Germantown. The food in Kazakhstan is some of the best tasting I have ever had in all my travels; always fresh. You cannot believe what they do with their vegetables and their goats (although Borat only highlights the sexual engagements – another exaggeration at their expense. I never saw anything like what the comedian speaks of. But let us not be so self righteous to forget about our own iconic cowboys who have gotten lonely on the trail -- and the stories about them and cattle – rumors as well, I’m sure.) The people of Kazakhstan are indeed passionate and excellent dancers – Borat showed us that and the men do generally dance with great fanfare with each other as he indicated but again this is not unlike many countries. Most of all, I would take home to America the laughter and kindness of these simple people – they tell jokes all day on all subjects especially special family events. If your daughter is married in Kazakhstan, she is not sold for a VCR with a remote control like Borat says – and, remember, in America many brides’ parents still offer dowries or at least pay for the wedding so we are not really so different. The bride, as is the custom of Kazakhstan, is always asked to work for both families – this brings everyone closer. During the days she might, for example, work at the dairy or farm and nights she might sew or cook or clean and it is not uncommon for the young bride to have a say in the family financials. One fact to consider is that women in Kazakhstan do not live as long as men. This is the opposite of the statistics in the United States. So I wouldn’t want to live there with my present wife and daughter. Other than that, Kazakhstan is a place we can learn from. In closing, please realize the difference between a false documentary or propaganda and pure fiction. While the Borat film is funny, it is not real in many ways – although the men, as he showed in his movie too graphically for many tastes, do not consider nudity offensive. They swim without bathing suits and walk after their swim back into town often with nothing but towels around their necks. Their innocence is something to be admired -- and if not, one can simply shield one’s eyes. There are a great many people in Kazakhstan who are offended by the publicity and news stories about Borat’s film though they will not see it due to the fact there are not many movie theatres there.
Joe Thompson Nov 15th 2006 12:26PM
I havenlt seen this yet, But heard so much about it! is it actually any good?
Can't decide on the offensive thing that poeple keep talking about...as in whtehre its a good thign or not, suppose you don't know until you see it for yourself but...