Danielle Solzman
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm joins a list of politically charged films that must be watched prior to the Election Day in November.
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan–hereafter Borat Subsequent Moviefilm or Borat 2–features some scenes that will certainly shock you. If you’ve been paying attention to news articles, some appearances will not come as a surprise. That being said, I’ve been asked not to divulge any of them in reviews or other reactions. I will abide by this request but I do believe that one appearance in particular–again I will not say who–will get people talking about it.
Everybody’s favorite Kazakhstani news reporter is back just in time for a very important election. This time, Borat Sagdiyev (Sacha Baron Cohen) is joined by his daughter, Tutar Sagdiyev (Maria Bakalova). After a brief recap of what happened to the journalist following the 2006 film, he’s off to America to deliver Tutar to Vice President Mike Pence. The whole concept is absurd but it’s what drives the can-you-believe-it comedy nature of the film. Conspiracy theorists make an appearance along the way. In classic Sacha Baron Cohen fashion, people are caught on camera saying things that they will probably regret later.
This film is timely and relevant. Filming took place during the Covid-19 pandemic and there are clear references in the film to masks, quarantines, and curfews. What I can say for certain is that you have people on camera that respect health safety and others that do not.
Outside of the few people here that are acting, there are no actors here. One non-actor makes a touching appearance. Sacha Baron Cohen is very outspoken about anti-Semitism. This is why a Holocaust survivor, Judith Dim Evans, appears in the film. Her appearance could not be more tasteful. For what the comedian is going for in the film, this scene stands out from all the rest. He isn’t trying to prank her or anything like that even though he’s in character the entire time. In addition, the film pays tribute to the late survivor at the end of the film.
The script is credited to eight different writers but there is so much comedy in the film. Some intentional, some not so much. Locations vary from New York to Washington to other locations. It is clear that Sacha Baron Cohen, who reprises his role as the Kazakhstani news reporter, knows what he wants. The targets are almost certainly chosen with good cause.
DIRECTOR: Jason Woliner
SCREENWRITERS: Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern
CAST: Sacha Baron Cohen and introducing Maria Bakalova
