Synopsis

A flamboyant journalist from Kazakhstan travels across the United States to make a documentary about American life. Joined by his producer, Borat encounters unsuspecting citizens, social institutions, and cultural traditions while pursuing a personal romantic mission. His outrageous behavior exposes prejudice, hypocrisy, and absurdity, turning the journey into a provocative collision between staged comedy and real-world reactions.

Factoids & Trivia

• Most of the people Borat encounters were not professional actors, and many believed they were participating in a legitimate documentary. The production used release forms to protect the filmmakers.

• The fictional Kazakhstan shown in the film was largely created through locations and participants in Romania. Residents of the village used for the opening scenes later pursued legal action, alleging that they had been misled and portrayed unfairly.

• Principal photography began with Todd Phillips attached to the project. After the rodeo sequence, Phillips left because of creative differences, and Larry Charles took over.

• Baron Cohen often speaks Hebrew while portraying Borat's supposed Kazakh language, using a heavy accent and invented context to make the dialogue sound foreign.

• The film was made on an approximately $18 million budget and became a major commercial success, earning more than $250 million worldwide.

• The screenplay received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, while Baron Cohen won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.

• Kazakhstan's government initially condemned the character and the film's portrayal of the country. Years later, the country used Borat's catchphrase in a tourism campaign.