I guess every discussion of Borat–the character brought to life by Jewish comedian Sacha Baron Cohen and the film featuring that character–has to begin with that pivotal moment in country-western anti-Semitism, “Throw the Jew Down the Well.” We could discuss, as has been discussed over and over again, whether such a song–and such a character–encourages anti-Semitism, is in poor taste, or is one of the most nuanced, brilliant characters to grace the comedy scene.
Or, as is clearly possible from this weekend’s box office take–$26.4 million in only 837 theaters–perhaps all of the above are true.
This film will never be confused with the quiet lushness and tragic silent tones of an Ang Lee production. But anyone expecting that probably won’t see the movie to begin with. This film is mean to appeal to a certain kind of sense of humor and to personalities who find the balls-out, in your face humor as hilarious as they find it shocking. From the “running of the Jew” to a Pentecostal service, from a humor coach–who illustrates that identifying humor and being funny are not the same–to a cringeworthily hilarious dinner party scene that would have killed Miss Manners with shock, from drunken frat boys to rodeo riders, no one is safe from the ridicule of the purportedly Kazakh journalist who is known as Borat. And in the opinion of this reviewer, that’s a good thing.
In some ways, the film is a fish-out-of-water exercise, wrapped up in a road movie, and sprinkled with improv and with multiple real languages (like Hebrew and, according to one viewer, a mix of Hungarian and Romanian) playing the role of the “Kazakh” language. With a foreigner holding a mirror up to reflect our own culture and behavior, we see that we are not always viewed in the most flattering light. Seeing the world through Borat’s eyes gives us all a window into what we look like to people of other cultures, and what people of other cultures see when they see us. We see him brave the NYC subway and think that the hotel elevator is his hotel room; we witness the seductive powers of television as Borat discovers “Baywatch,” to journey-altering results.
Borat’s ignorance of the world at large also illustrates the relativity of what is culturally acceptable–while in Kazakhstan, he might be proud that his sister is “#4 prostitute in all the land,” in America he learns that it is not considered in line with dinner etiquette to invite a prostitute to dinner or to [spoiler alert] try to bridenap Pamela Anderson at an Orange County memorabilia signing.
That Borat got the patrons at the bar to sing his anti-Semitic song (a scene which is not in the movie) or that he views an elderly Jewish couple as a terrifying threat to his existence is more of a reflection of what ignorance brings than it is of hatred and bigotry. For instance, Borat visits a gun store and asks which gun is best for shooting Jews. The store owner only hesitates a moment before answering “a 9 mm or a .45.” In another example that doesn’t have to do with Jews, when Borat tries to kiss a guy at the rodeo, the guy explains that only the gays do that. Borat responds that in his country they round up the gays and put them in prison. Rodeo Guy says, “That’s what we’re trying to do here, too.”
I often wonder if, as a Jew, I feel better or worse about the fact that such things are coming from a comedian who has been heralded, pre-Borat, as a proud Jew. I think that I’d feel worse if such a character were played by a non-Jew, even if he said the same thing. This leads to a whole other discussion about the line between what’s funny and what’s offensive, between what’s lampooning and what’s hatemongering. Can I laugh at anti-Semitic or homophobic comments, even if they are offered within a framework of satire?
I saw the movie on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, during the first show available after the Jewish Sabbath. The theater was filled with Jews who booed the “Apocalypto” trailer as soon as the words “a film by Mel Gibson” flashed onscreen. (Borat would have been very nervous.) But another friend of mine saw it in a different neighborhood, and he reports having been one of only a few Jews in the audience. He loved the movie, too, but before entering the theater, he came across a group of non-Jewish kids sitting outside playing guitar, and singing all the words to “Throw the Jew Down the Well”–and all of a sudden, he wasn’t so sure how he felt about whether putting a character like Borat out there was a good idea after all.
Even though it was clearly meant as satire, there’s always someone who’s going to reappropriate or reinterpret it in the opposite manner from which it was intended. And if such catchphrases are popularized in the youth culture without any context or explanation, it might lay a foundation for believing that the song is legitimate not just as comedic entertainment, but as a personal philosophy.
These issues are disturbing, but what’s disturbing us is not Borat or Sacha Baron Cohen. It is the fact that there are people around us who hate and fear what they do not know personally, and that the bigotry and intolerance is closer than we think.
posted November 6, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Ok, the kids knew all the words. But how do you (or your friend) they had appropriated the song as personal philosophy, and weren’t just treating it as legitimate comedic entertainment? Is it because they were Gentiles? They were, presumably, about to go see “Borat,” and so, also presumably, were in on the joke. (I think these presumptions are at least as likely as the presumption that they’re cutting-edge anti-Semitic Borat groupies, who fail to grasp the levels of irony at work in the character).
posted November 7, 2006 at 8:47 am
Esther Kustanowitz’ review seems too open-minded. Evidently it’s now fashionable to express virtually any sort of anti-Semitic notion no matter how offensive. That is as long as you’re a Jew pretending to be a Muslim while doing so. What’s more it seems there’s even a lucrative market for such material depending on who appears to be profiting from it and whom they appear to be mocking. But please don’t expect me to remain vocal in opposing anti-Semitism after seeing how charitable its victims are towards those who propagate it (depending on the circumstances).
posted November 7, 2006 at 2:48 pm
Through his Borate character Cohen is highlighting how ignorant people have to be to buy into bigotry of any sort. The character of Borat can be from any country and of any religion, that is not the point. He isn’t celebrating anti-semitism, sexism, etc in this movie, he’s showing how ugly these things are and that contrary to what some people would love to belive, hate and ignorance is alive an well in the United States.
posted November 7, 2006 at 8:29 pm
I’m going to see the movie tonight, although I’ve seen enough trailers and earlier alli-g shows to know the Borat character. He’s actually just the instigater in these live theater moments, the real star, the real buffoon, is the person he’s talking to. We laugh not at Borat, but at the idiot he’s talking to. Just the fact that they don’t realize they are being put on is the heart of the joke, and the longer they don’t realize it, the funnier it is.The Americans caught on tape being so frigging stupid they know so little of the world that they are willing to believe people drink fermented horse urine (rather than fermented horse MILK) is hysterical. I’d like to believe that for every gullible idiot he interviews there are tons of out takes of people saying “Dude, you’ve got to be kidding”. That Cohen does all this with a straight face, so sincerely, is a credit to his acting and improvising skill. Oh, and by the way, I’m a Jew too, although not a religious one, and I’m not offended by him. I’m amused!
posted November 7, 2006 at 8:53 pm
Great review!
posted November 7, 2006 at 11:12 pm
While I enjoyed your review, I pretty much disagree with the idea that Borat is any sort of mirror. First, I don’t believe the scenes were spontaneous. I mean, come on, the camera guy was right there! Second, many of the scenes were just “banana peel” type humor and had no cultural revelations whatsoever (antique shop, forex). Third, the actual revelations were underwhelming: wow, there are some bigots in the South. What a shock. It’s a generally amusing film, no question, but I think U.S. reviewers are making too much of it.
posted November 8, 2006 at 4:22 am
Forget about “Throw the Jews Down the Well” song, the most disturbing piece from the Ali G Show is one, in which Baron Cohen is not even Borat, but Bruno, and the people that Bruno was interviewing just blurted out anti-Semitic comments for no reason whatsoever and no prompting at all from Bruno. Chilling.>
posted November 8, 2006 at 6:38 am
As a 17 year old I fear the implications of this film on my generation. To be honest, the kids from this generation aren’t too bright and tend to glorify immoral things. The example you cited of the teens singing the “Throw a Jew Down a Well” doesn’t surprise me but does horrify me. Borat in teen eyes is likeable in a sense, and teens will want to mimic his behavior and outrageous language. They’re more focused on looking “cool” than any sort of redeeming “social mirror.” I just fear a bunch of outrageous, hateful sounding memes springing from this without people realizing their true meaning.However, my friend and I will be seeing it this week, and I think those who are mature in my age group will benefit greatly from this film and have an overall good time.
posted January 5, 2007 at 2:34 pm
There is always a trade-off with new ideas or perspectives as to the benefit or damage they cause. The then-pornographic book “Tom Jones” increased the number of regular book readers in England ten-fold after it was published and led to the first public libraries where people could rent the book rather than having to buy it. The porn web-sites were the major source of “leading edge” technology as to pop-ups and internet advertising. It is always hard to determine whether discussing a controversial concept is “good” or “bad.” As Woody Allen said in ‘Deconstructing Harry’, “Don’t talk about numbers, referring to the number of Jews killed in the Holocaust, “when you talk about numbers, people will always try to surpass that figure.”
posted March 3, 2007 at 12:28 am
You said; “But another friend of mine saw it in a different neighborhood, and he reports having been one of only a few Jews in the audience.” How exactly was your friend able to tell who the Jews were? That concept, of ‘just knowing who the Jews are’ scares me more than anything Borat could come up with. Sick.
posted March 20, 2007 at 6:28 am
actually i found in the end that borat portrayed jews rather nicely. the character of borat is very antisemitic, but it is telling that the only jews actually portrayed in the movie are the pillar of kindliness and generosity. borat is showing that antisemitism is unfounded.
posted June 10, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Man, this movie is funny and it is a satire but lets face it some of it had to be faked. I mean come on, if you or I ran through a Marriott or a Holiday Inn during a large convention, naked, they’d throw our naked ass in jail.
Also if you or I tackled Pamela Anderson at a book signing, we’d wouldn’t be removed by “security”, we’d be locked up in the LA jail.
So take it for what it is, a complete satire, but is Cohen taking advantage of his jewish tradition by using anti-jewish humor? Its a double standard, jews can make fun of each other because they are jews, but if a non-jew does the same its considered antisemitism.
I supposed in a perfect world racial & religious stereotypes and humor have to go away before the general population can achieve the goal of a completely non-prejudiced and non-hate-filled world.
posted September 22, 2007 at 12:20 pm
If the Borat character had been portrayed by a non-Jew, it would have been an outrage. As it is, I found it hilarious in the context of “stupid” humor. Borat’s attitude towards Jews, as well as his attitude towards women in general and Pamela Anderson in particular take ignorance to a level that is really funny.
posted July 2, 2008 at 10:37 am
Booshaka. Respect.