Although it may have presented a less than flattering picture of both Birmingham and Alabama in its exploitation of not one— but two!— of our local etiquette schools, there’s no doubt that this hilarious Sacha Baron Cohen mockumentary got more than a few hardy laughs at our expense. Following the comedic misadventures of one of Baron Cohen’s most beloved characters— the filterless, affable and endearingly ignorant Kazakh tv reporter, Borat— as he makes his way across America to learn more about the country, the film utilized two local locations to great comedic effect: the Etiquette School of Birmingham and Magnolia Springs Manor in Helena. Of the two, most will remember the scenes from the manor best, as it is where Borat produces a bag of his own excrement at the stately seated dinner he attends, as well as where he invites a private escort to be his personal guest for the meal, much to the shock and chagrin of his well-mannered hosts. Hilarity ensues, and thankfully most of those that were tricked into filming the scenes took it all with a grain of salt and good attitude following the film’s premiere, proving that sometimes we have to laugh at ourselves even when we’re not initially in on the joke, and Borat certainly proved that to be true on a grand scale.
FUN FACT: Borat and Baron Cohen were nominated for several Golden Globe Awards for his riotously deadpan delivery and cinematic hijinks, including Best Actor-Musical or Comedy, which he won, and Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy, which he did not. The movie was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay as well, highlighting the film’s brilliant comedic writing and satirical edge.
Trailer Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL6_G1z6ymw