Borat's anti-semitism?

N.Y. Times reporter Sharon Waxman points out the existence of some obviously insincere anti-Semitic humor in Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (20th Century Fox, 11.3).

Waxman notes that Borat, "a racuous comedy, seems certain to raise hackles and induce squirming by making comic points by seeming to embrace sexism, racism, homophobia and that most risky of social toxins: anti-Semitism." The operative term, obviously, is "seeming," as in "putting on" and/or "placing within quotes." And yet Waxman seems to be absorbing Borat's sense of humor in a fairly literal vein.

"In one scene Borat insists on driving to California rather than flying, 'in case the Jews repeat their attack of 9/11,'" she writes. "As he tours the South, he becomes terrified when he learns that an elderly couple who run an inn are Jewish. When cockroaches crawl under the door of his room, he becomes convinced the innkeepers have transformed themselves into bugs, and throws money at them.

"In another scene Borat returns to his home village and participates in an annual ritual, 'The Running of the Jews,' complete with giant Jew puppets that the villagers beat with clubs.

"This anti-Semitic humor is mixed in with other outrageous behavior, including slurs against Gypsies and gays, and a nude wrestling match. But in a world in which resurgent anti-Semitism has become -- sometimes literally -- an explosive topic, the movie may well hit a particular nerve, especially in Europe."

I didn't see Borat at Cannes last May because it played at midnight, and I probably won't see it tomorrow (Thursday) night at the Toronto Film Festival because it's playing at midnight. Well, maybe I'll go if I can find two or three Red Bulls to chug. I just hate getting to bed at 2:30 or 3 ayem and getting up at 7 ayem. Throws off the whole damn day.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on September 6, 2006 at 8:36 PM

comment #1

le corbeau Author Profile Page says ...

Dear Sharon Waxman,

He's not a gay French race car driver, either.

Posted by le corbeau Author Profile Page at September 6, 2006 9:16 PM

comment #2

Teh Awesome Author Profile Page says ...

Anybody got spare tickets for any of the two Toronto Borat screenings? E me, daf dot charles @ gmail. Thanks!

Posted by Teh Awesome Author Profile Page at September 6, 2006 9:35 PM

comment #3

Dixon Steele Author Profile Page says ...

At least Mel Gibson will like it.

Posted by Dixon Steele Author Profile Page at September 6, 2006 9:44 PM

comment #4

Dan Revill Author Profile Page says ...

I'm not sure that I even want to read the article...If she actually believes that SBC is an anti-Semite, then I have a bridge for sale.

Posted by Dan Revill Author Profile Page at September 6, 2006 10:56 PM

comment #5

Josh Massey Author Profile Page says ...

"...seeming to embrace sexism, racism, homophobia and that most risky of social toxins: anti-Semitism."

Why the hell is anti-Semitism worse than sexism, racism or homophobia? Hell, being an anti-Semite is a lot less risky in this culture than being considered anti-black. Just imagine if Mel Gibson had called the cops the "n-word."

Posted by Josh Massey Author Profile Page at September 7, 2006 5:19 AM

comment #6

NYCBusybody Author Profile Page says ...

Only someone in Los Angeles or NYC could say that anti-Semitism is the riskiest "social toxin". I'd actually put it LAST in the pecking order in places like the Midwest and the South, with racism (i.e. white on black) being by FAR the most volatile.

There ain't many Jews around.

Posted by NYCBusybody Author Profile Page at September 7, 2006 6:24 AM

comment #7

Rich S. Author Profile Page says ...

If he offended Waxman, Cohen must be doing something right.

Posted by Rich S. Author Profile Page at September 7, 2006 7:31 AM

comment #8

NYCBusybody Author Profile Page says ...

Besides, it's the Islamic world, particularly in former Soviet satellites like Kazakhstan, that's being satirized here. If anyone is going to be offended, it will be the Kazakhs (as they have been in the past - they threatened to sue SBC).

Which is fair of them, because as all of us politically correct Americans know, Muslims are never actually anti-Semitic, heavens no, they just don't like Israel's existence.

Posted by NYCBusybody Author Profile Page at September 7, 2006 8:02 AM

comment #9

Ju-osh Author Profile Page says ...

She does know that Borat is played/was created by a Jewish guy, right?

Posted by Ju-osh Author Profile Page at September 7, 2006 8:22 AM

comment #10

christian Author Profile Page says ...

Waxman is a fairly unimpressive critic to me. Her book Rebels on the Backlot was filled with limited perceptions of what makes a good or even unique movie (basically in the book, if a film didn't make money, it's not good nor memorable. She breathes a sigh of relief that Soderbergh didn't get to his SCHIZOPOLIS sequel because, you know, nobody saw or liked the first one. In other words, Waxman didn't get it. Right. Tell it Criterion. Or me.)

And Waxman made a major mistake in her book involving David Russell which she has yet to correct.

Anyway, Cohen is one of the few genuine comedy genuises on the planet. I am there. And I'm a Jew. Oy!

Posted by christian Author Profile Page at September 7, 2006 8:34 AM

comment #11

sutter kane Author Profile Page says ...

not one bit of it sounds worse than anything they do on any given episode of south park, which raised more controversy over attacking scientology than the regular barage of anti-semitic slurs hurled at kyle in every episode.

Posted by sutter kane Author Profile Page at September 7, 2006 9:49 AM

comment #12

InnerGeek Author Profile Page says ...

Funny is funny and that's why it's getting a wide release. Cohen is a brilliant satirist.

Posted by InnerGeek Author Profile Page at September 7, 2006 10:29 AM

comment #13

caslab Author Profile Page says ...

um, Josh and NYC . . .

I think she was singling out anti-Semitism as particularly risky based on the Mel Gibson fall out. No need to get huffy about which horrible thing is worse. She's just grasping for straws here.

Posted by caslab Author Profile Page at September 7, 2006 10:30 AM

comment #14

jeffmcm Author Profile Page says ...

Wells using "ayem" as if it was English and not Hollywood Douchebagish is more offensive than SBC's anti-semitism.

Posted by jeffmcm Author Profile Page at September 7, 2006 11:31 AM

comment #15

Jay T. Author Profile Page says ...

It's not really risky given that *COHEN* is jewish himself... umm... am I missing something?

Posted by Jay T. Author Profile Page at September 7, 2006 12:23 PM

comment #16

Josh Massey Author Profile Page says ...

True, Jeff - I hadn't read that far.

And Caslab, what "fall out" has there really been about the Gibson thing? That story had no legs.

Posted by Josh Massey Author Profile Page at September 7, 2006 1:00 PM

comment #17

mediocrates Author Profile Page says ...

Well, Josh, apparently Rob Schneider will never work with Mel Gibson. What fallout could possibly exceed that?

Posted by mediocrates Author Profile Page at September 7, 2006 2:15 PM

comment #18

caslab Author Profile Page says ...

Josh -

Seriously?

There have been enough discussions on this site about Mel Gibson, there's no need to turn this into another one. But whatever your opinion on the man or his drunken tirades, this was a couch-jumping moment for him.

So, I think Waxman was trying to say that anti-Semitism could be particularly career-damaging right now, although she failed take into account that the ironic kind (someone mentioned SOUTH PARK above) isn't an issue here . . . Just her failed attempt to be clever and connect unrelated dots.

Posted by caslab Author Profile Page at September 7, 2006 2:48 PM

comment #19

Dixon Steele Author Profile Page says ...

And there's a bit difference between SBC humor (look what he did to the Queen in ALI G) and Mel Gibson's Jews-killed-Jesus movie and subsequent anti-Jewish meltdown.

Posted by Dixon Steele Author Profile Page at September 7, 2006 3:10 PM

comment #20

Josh Massey Author Profile Page says ...

When - if - Gibson ever stars in another movie, we'll see how the masses react. I predict there's not going to be much of a dropoff for him, if any.

And no, I don't think "Apocalypto" will be a true test of his box office stature.

Posted by Josh Massey Author Profile Page at September 8, 2006 5:37 AM

comment #21

Joshua Mooney Author Profile Page says ...

"caslab" said:

"So, I think Waxman was trying to say that anti-Semitism could be particularly career-damaging right now, although she failed take into account that the ironic kind (someone mentioned SOUTH PARK above) isn't an issue here . . . Just her failed attempt to be clever and connect unrelated dots."

I think "caslab" is essentially right here. Waxman's piece in the Times is (predictably) obtuse-- and not intentionally so, as if she's trying to "explain" Borat to the readers. No, that's just Waxman being true to herself, and there's nothing we can do about this. Having said that, I sense her ultimate frustration in not being able to interview Cohen [out of character] or anyone at Fox for the article. (God dammit! This is the New York Fucking Times calling!) Cohen's m.o. may be pure Andy Kaufman (and I find myself giving points to Waxman for even mentioning Andy, but why am I doing this? Isn't this obvious? Cohen's been around for years), yet Fox's motivation/explanation about hoping for a "young audience" seems absurd and laughable. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm not wrong.

Posted by Joshua Mooney Author Profile Page at September 8, 2006 11:10 AM

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