Russia Says Nyet to Borat

Russia won't let local cinemas show the comedy film ``Borat,'' a spoof movie depicting a misogynist, anti-Semitic, homophobic reporter from Kazakhstan, over concern it could offend audiences.

``We decided not to grant this film a cinema license because there are moments in the film which could offend some viewers' religious or national sensibilities,'' Yuri Vasyuchkov, head of the film licensing department at Russia's Moscow-based Federal Culture and Cinematography Agency, said today by phone.

More here.

How's this for a possible solution: Borat's creator, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Russia censors meet for a sitdown at Yakov Smirnoff's theater in Branson, Missouri?

Jacob Sullum gave props to Cohen here.

Comments

[Evan!]

In soviet russia, film censors you!

So, it "could" offend "some" viewers "religious or national sensibilities", eh? Let me tell you this: it WILL offend MOST viewers sensibilities. That's the point. Why is being offended such a bad thing? Personally, I like being offended, it gives me something to bitch about.

I'm going to start a campaign to usher in a new age of acceptance, even appreciation, of offensiveness.

[Lamar]

Now why would Russia say nyet to the Picasso of Tom Greenes?

[Cab]

After being reminded of Yakov Smirnoff, the thought of banning some entertainers doesn't seem like such a bad idea.

[tomhynes]

What is russian for "teabagging"?

[Lamar]

??? ????????

I'm just kiddin'

[matthew hogan]

Countries banning artistic parodies because they're offensive to sensibilities? I thought only Muslims did that.

[Paul Davis]

Over at NPR, there is a panel debating if censoring speech that offends is a good thing. It's Left against Left. Quite entertaining and scary.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6249980

[Evan!]

Paul Davis,

Yeah, you're right. Left against left indeed. Chris Hitchens, that liberal pinko bastard...

WTF you be talkin bout?

[rvman]

There are 6 panelists on the NPR thing. 5 obvious lefties and Chris Hitchens. Hitchens is, shall we say, definitely on the liberal side as far as freedom of speech is concerned. Indeed, the man is practically a communist in his economic beliefs. He just happens to believe that guns are a valid means of gaining liberal rights for the oppressed, and he views America as fundamentally a liberal force in the world. This comes from comparing what the 300 million here believe and advocate, to what the billions elsewhere do. Compared to Europe, America is right-wing. Compared to pre-war Iraq, or China, or even India and Japan, America is a bastion of liberal thinking. Left against left is accurate.

[Ken Shultz]

Borat seems like Mel Brooks meets Michael Moore.

...If Smirnoff has his own theater, then this really is a miraculous country.

[Mike Laursen]

Since when have Russians become so sensitive? Have they been taken over by touchy-feely space aliens or somethin'.

[unknown]

It shows how rotten and ignorant you are if you find it a comedy , or farce or any kind of art. Such movies ( you can't even call this piece of garbage a movie )should be banned everywhere in the world.