Kazakhstan finally embraces Borat as tourism chiefs launch 'very nice' campaign
When the first Borat movie came out in 2006, the fictional character’s home country of Kazakhstan was less than impressed by its depiction.
The mockumentary was banned there and actor Sacha Baron Cohen was threatened with a lawsuit.
Fast-forward 14 years and the oil-rich country has changed its tune after the release of the sequel Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.
The Kazakh tourism board has now added the character’s famous “very nice” catchphrase to new commercials.
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The idea to embrace Borat came from Dennis Keen and Yermek Utemissov, reports the New York Times.
The duo pitched the idea of showcasing the country’s food, architecture, nature and people, with the tagline “Kazakhstan. Very nice!”
Kairat Sadvakassov, the deputy chairman of Kazakhstan’s tourism board, told the NY Times that although the sequel continues to ridicule the country, it also gives it a worldwide platform.
”In Covid times, when tourism spending is on hold, it was good to see the country mentioned in the media. Not in the nicest way, but it’s good to be out there,” said Sadvakassov. “We would love to work with Cohen, or maybe even have him film here.”
The new Borat movie has been making news for the compromising interview with Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani. The former New York mayor is shown with his hand down his pants after flirting with an actress playing a young woman.