Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is as funny, as offensive, and as relevant as ever. Here are 5 takeaways from Sacha Baron Cohen’s very timely and incredibly political sequel.
1. It Is Incredibly Current
I’m not sure what I was expecting from Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, but I sure as hell wasn’t expecting it to be this current. From crashing the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February, to quarantining with a couple of QAnon believing, Obama-hating, racist alt-righters, to the now infamous “kompromat” that Rudy Giuliani handed him on a silver platter, this movie perfectly encapsulates everything that America was in 2020. Angry. Confused. Divided. And completely unrecognisable from the image that they have cultivated in popular culture since the end of World War II.
Even though it was only released in 2006, the first movie already feels like something of a relic. In the fourteen years since, the fringe voices that Borat so shrewdly eviscerates through his comedy have now become a dominant force in American discourse. They are the power brokers and the kingmakers. We laughed at them then, we made fun of their bassackwardness, completely clueless as to what they would become. Looking back, it feels very much like Borat was trying to tell us something.
2. There Is a Lot of Plot
The most critical choice behind why Borat Subsequent Moviefilm works is in its decision to do away with the format of the first film. (Mostly.) Borat, you see, is now far too famous a character to pull off the same trick twice. He is immediately recognisable, and trying to dupe unsuspecting rednecks while wearing that iconic grey suit is no longer as easy as it once once.
Director Jason Woliner takes the mockumentary style and blends it into a narrative arc involving a father/daughter road trip, an America in decline, a third world nation looking to make its mark on the world, and COVID-19. This driving plot doesn’t just give the movie purpose and direction but also and emotional arc. The first movie gave the world an unsympathetic and unholy fool. This one gives us a very human one.
3. The Timing of This Release Is Not a Coincidence
The first thing you see after the movie ends is a title card that reads, “Now vote, or you will be execute,” making it crystal clear that this is very much a movie with a message. Why else would it drop just 11 days before Americans go to the polls?
Borat has always been a political animal, speaking truth to power on both sides of the divide. This movie feels different because how focussed it is in tearing down the Trumpian worldview. Given the critical nature of these upcoming presidential elections, it is no surprise the role that Sacha Baron Cohen’s personal politics have played in directing this narrative. That said, it is important to note the significance of that title card at the end. In that it is the first time that Borat has broken character.
4. Sacha Baron Cohen Is a Genius…
Sacha Baron Cohen might just be our smartest living satirist. Love him or hate him, there is no denying his talent. Yes, he has an incredible intellect. Yes, his skill in creating these hideously skewed reflections of ourselves is second to none. And yes, it helps that he is very funny. His real genius, however, lies in his empathy. In his ability to find a way in and connect with anyone and everyone he encounters.
When Sacha Baron Cohen creates a character, whether it’s Bruno, or Ali G, or Borat, it isn’t done in isolation. None of them feel like the indulgences of a prankster. They are crafted with a purpose. They exist as logical extremes of who we are as people. What he does is exploit his empathy to create characters who are mirrors of our darkest selves. That is the secret to how he tricks us. By giving us something we recognise.
5. … and So Is Maria Bakalova
I’m not sure if there is anything left to say about just how amazing Maria Bakalova is in this movie. Playing Borat’s 15-year-old daughter, Tutar, Bakalova’s transformation from a feral child who longs to be like Melania, a princess in a golden cage, to a power suit clad conservative journalist is a masterclass in physical comedy.
The way she manipulates her face and body throughout the movie, transitioning through various stages of character growth, from ignorance to confidence, deftly balancing strength and vulnerability, shows off an ability that’s far beyond her years.
Besides being the heart of this movie, Bakalova is also funny, and awkward, and weird, and bold in a way I haven’t seen from a comedian in a very long time. Hers is, hands down, the best comedy performance of 2020.
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