It might not be coming out until November, but the upcoming film "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," starring Sacha Baron Cohen as a faux-Kazakh buffoon, is making Kazakhstan deeply nervous about its national image -- so much so that the country's government took out a pricey four-page full-color ad in the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune today.
The special four-page insert entitled "Kazakhstan in the 21st Century" features a photo of the country's president Nursultan Nazarbayev on its front page shaking hands with President George W. Bush -- good timing, considering that Nazarbayev is scheduled to be at the White House this coming Friday. And the thirteen articles contained within propagandize broadly over such topics as "Transforming the mixed blessing of a nuclear legacy" and "Petroleum players seek their fortune in the City of London" (that's what it says, folks).The ad likely cost somewhere around $300,000 - $400,000 to run; Kazakhstan's per capita income was approximately $7,500, according to 2004 estimates.
But there's at least one piece that Borat might appreciate : "Combining business with pleasure in cosmopolitan Kazakhstan."
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Sacha Baron Cohen is as funny as they come. I like all his characters and have all the Ali G DVDs. I can't wait for the movie to come out.
I saw the movie already, a special screening, last Wednesday, and the movie is an absolute laugh riot.
What the kazakhs don't seem to be getting is that Borat is not about laughing at Kazakhstan, but instead conservative and narrow-minded people in general (with this movie especially in the US).
I've said it before and I'll say it again, this Kazakhstan, is NOT a "real" counrty. This Cohen guy made it up. Think about it, why would a supposed "dirt poor" country spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for a four page COLOR spread in the New York Times... a paper no true New Yorker reads! It's all a publicity stunt to get people to go see his movie: "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." You people are sooo guliable. You really are! Kazakhstan...gimme a break!
I don't doubt that this is a publicity stunt, but Kazakhstan is a real country. I don't find it hard to believe that they would run an ad like this.
Oh sure...Wikipedia...yeah that has the ring of truth to it. Ha, next thing you'll be saying is that they REALLY landed on the moon!
Ryann,
Did you attend geography classes?
Kazahstan is a real country. I know people from there. They are as dubm and idiotic as Sasha portrays them.
Thank you Sasha
To: Ryan Mc Nally and people like him,
Do some research before you jump to conclusions , TMZ reporters are such f***-faces, they try to make everything sound so extreme by saying the country's "per capita income is $7,500" and comparing it to the $300,000 spent on the Ad. Per Capita Income means how much (if distributed evenly) each of the 11 million residents in Kazakhstan made in 2004, their Gross Annual Income is around:
$81,000,000,000, yes 81 billion dollars.
Look what TMZ made of Mel's drunken outrage against the jews, 3 weeks of ongoing bashing of that idiot with his big mouth.
Think for yourselves people, this rationally , objectively.
I like! Will see. Borat, If bring donkey to show will u marry me?
Quasi college educated know it all:
Are you serious? you actually said Kazakhstan is not a country without even looking at an atlas? Its part of the former soviet union, its a country north of Afghanistan by tajikistan, terkmenistan and a plethora of -stan countries.
I hope you were joking just to see college know-it-alls like myself correct you in a tongue in cheek way so as to attempt to make you feel like an idiot.
Quasi college educated know it all:
huh.. isnt ryan mcnalley the name of an atlas manufacturer?
ok Left Coasties. Kazakhstan is a genuine country. Sheesh. Do they teach *anything* to you in Kalifornia? Aside from surfing...anyhoo
Mr. "Borat" was sighted in front of the Kazak embassy yesterday, attracting over 50 reporters. Rumors have it that his clever agent fooled half the dumb-a** tv producers in town to send trucks down to the embassy at 16th and O. Er-and you think Tinseltown producers are stupid-ours think they're the smartest shiite's in the pasture 'cause their covering "real" events.
Borat was thankfully stopped at the White House gates. Surprised that the Secret Service Uniforms didn't open fire on the whole circus.
I can't believe so many people thought Ryan wasn't clearly joking. People are so dumb...
