HOW BORAT CAME TO BE

Sacha Baron Cohen plays it for laughs in "BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN," a brilliant, hilarious comedy that is about to put Kazakhstan in the mainstream scene.

In the movie, the chameleon-like Cohen impersonates a Kazakh reporter who tours the United States who conveys his unique version of Kazakh culture to real-life Americans. As he zigzags through the nation, he meets real people in real situations with hysterical consequences. His backward behavior generates strong reactions around him, exposing prejudices and hypocrisies in American culture.

The character Borat in the movie is an extended version of Cohen's character in HBO's "Da Ali G Show," wherein Cohen's outlandish humor and razor-sharp satire on anti-semitism, misogyny and racism, came to life through his creation's bizarre behavior and interviews. Baron Cohen's innovative work has brought him two BAFTA awards; plus, he is also the only person to host the European MTV Awards twice.

Sacha, as Borat, talks about how he became a journalist. "My profession television reporter. I second most successful in all Kazakhstan. I also have work in past as gypsy catcher, ice make and in computer maintenance-I would paint the outsides and remove dead birds from their pipes."

From those humble beginnings, Borat rose up the ranks of Kazakh broadcasting-until he got his big shot at fame. "1 years ago, Kazakh Ministry of Information send me to US and A to make reportings that would help Kazakhstan. We want to be like you. America have most beautiful womens in world-for example Liza Minnelli and Elizabeth Taylor. It also center for democracy and porno. I like! I so excite to do my movie!

The film being experimental, takes Borat head straight to the most sensitive areas of politically incorrect global culture by way of introducing the character to a mass audience, far beyond the urbane niche of HBO.

Highly unusual of Hollywood films, 20th Century Fox had kept the film off its production list and created a separate producer. It was initially director Todd Phillips who is at the movie's helm but left due to creative differences with Cohen. Ignoring various protests from the Kazakh Embassy during the film's production, officials fearing of how the movie will depict their country, veteran comedy director Larry Charles ("Entourage," "Seinfield") with Jay Roach, director of the "Austin Powers" films, eventually completed the film.

The movie recently rocked the audience with laughter at the Cannes Film Festival but also caught the ire of Kazakh officials prompting them to stage a campaign blitz to promote the real Kazakhstan. The real Kazakhstan as the officials would like to put it has gleaming hotels, the region's best pastrami sandwiches and the planet's largest population of wolves. Although the world's 9th largest country by area, Kazakhstan has only a population of just 16 million and has been a blank spot on the mental map of the world.

Kazakh embassy spokesman Roman Vassilenko commented that the country is virtually unknown. "That's why perhaps he (Cohen) chose Kazakhstan for his movie. He does not really present the country at all. People in their sane minds would know that any real country cannot be like what he depicts it to be," concludes Vassilenko.

In character as Borat, Cohen replied to the statement saying that the recent advertisements about Kazakhstan are mere lies. "That women are treated equally and that all religions are tolerated - these are disgusting fabrications. And please don't listen to this man claiming to be press secretary. He is an impostor and is currently being hunted by our agents," added the comic in his Borat character.

BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN opens very soon this November from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Check out www.youtube.com for more of the outrageous Borat.