NationStates Jolt Archive


Borat DVD selling nicely in Kazakhstan

Alexandrian Ptolemais
23-03-2007, 04:44
LONDON (Hollywood Reporter) - Kazakhs are rushing to order Sacha Baron Cohen's "Borat" on DVD from Amazon.co.uk, the online giant said.

"Borat" topped the order list from consumers in the former Soviet republic last week, according to Amazon head of media Rakhi Parekh.

"With the controversy the film caused around the world, it seems residents of Kazakhstan are now desperate to see what all the fuss is about -- so much so that they are willing to pay the 505 Kazakhstani tenge ($4) charge to have the DVD delivered from the U.K.," Parekh said Friday. (The film was released in the United States on DVD last Tuesday.)

Kazakhs also appear to have developed a healthy interest in capitalism and the United States, according to the top 10 product orders from Amazon.co.uk. The top-selling book is "Leading at a Higher Level: Blanchard on How to Be a High Performing Leader." Other titles on investment strategies and offshore tax planning suggest that locals are looking to add to the country's current list of six registered millionaires.

The U.S. influence on life in Kazakhstan also can be seen with "Celebrating the American Home: 50 Great Houses From 50 American Architects" on the chart, while the U.S. cult of the body beautiful is filtering through to Kazakh men, who are snapping up Men's Health fitness titles.

Musically, "The Very Best of Sting and the Police" is the top-selling album being shipped to Kazakhstan.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyid=2007-03-13T144151Z_01_N13435971_RTRUKOC_0_US-BORAT.xml

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This is quite amusing, and it shows that people are willing to laugh at themselves, and more specifically, stereotypes of themselves.
Poitter
23-03-2007, 05:43
That probably means that the Kazakhstan government has banned it if they have to order it from the UK. It would be funny to hear/see what their reactions are, I would assume they'd take it in good humor, and understand it for what it is, a piss take on Americans