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Romanian villagers sue 'Borat' makers |
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Written by asap
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Tuesday, 21 November 2006 |
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In the latest instance of the Borat backlash, residents of a Romanian village filed a $30 million lawsuit against the "Borat" filmmakers. The villagers claim the "Borat" crew misled them into thinking the project was a documentary about poverty.
"Nothing could have been further from the truth," the lawsuit said. "The project was intended to portray the plaintiffs ... and other villagers as rapists, abortionists, prostitutes, thieves, racists, bigots, simpletons and/or boors."
THE STUDIO RESPONSE
Gregg Brilliant, a spokesman for 20th Century Fox, "Borat's" distributor, said the movie "was never presented to anyone in Romania as a documentary."
He said village residents were paid above the usual rate and mixed with professional actors and others to portray a fictional village. He said there was irony in the allegations in the lawsuit.
"It's a film that uses satire to expose racism and bigotry," he said.
The movie has been a surprise hit at the box office, earning more than $90 million so far in the United States.
BACKLASH
People in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan also have complained about their depiction in the film.
In addition, two members of a South Carolina college fraternity have sued 20th Century Fox and three production companies over their appearance in the movie making drunken, insulting comments about women and minorities.
They say the crew got them drunk in a bar before filming and told them the movie would not be shown in the United States. | Only registered users can write comments. Please login or register. |
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