Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat Subsequent Moviefilm had a scene omitted that would have made the character of Tutar more feminist. The film is Cohen’s follow-up to the 2006 hit comedy Borat, which introduced the character of Borat, a journalist from Kazakhstan whose story is told through a darkly comedic mockumentary style. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm introduced breakout star Maria Bakalova, a Bulgarian actress who plays Borat’s daughter, Tutar.
In both films, Cohen expertly uses satire through his purposely problematic character of Borat to challenge social norms and expose the troubling inner-workings of everything from sexism to right-wing extremism. Because Borat is such a well-known and often controversial character, the production of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm had to happen in total secrecy, leading Cohen to assume several different disguises. Many of the situations that Cohen inserts himself into could potentially be dangerous for both the actors and the crew if their real identities were discovered. These risky production decisions are part of what makes both films so effective and also so humorous.
Bakalova recently spoke to Collider about the film and how her character was originally going to become extremely progressive in the end. However, like so many productions in the past year, the coronavirus pandemic interrupted their plans for the character. Bakalova explains how central the discussion of feminism was for the whole team and how she knew that every one of them was “there to stand up against misogyny and stand up against women being subjugated by the patriarchy.” She continued, commenting on how shocking it is that women are still considered unequal in many parts of the world. Her full quote is below:
"I think that has been from the beginning of the moment when they've been creating the script, because the whole team that we've been working on, I can call every single one of them by their names and I can stand behind my words that I feel they're like family and they're all people that are inspiring, that are there to stand up against misogyny and stand up against women being subjugated by the patriarchy. Because unfortunately, it's crazy, but we are living in 2021 and there are still places around the world, there are still people that are believing that women are somehow not equal, which is crazy. So I believe that that has been one of the messages in the movie. Sacha probably has a better answer, but from the first script that I read, it was there.And actually, this is a funny story that I haven't mentioned yet. Tutar at some point was about to become [an] extremely pro-LGBTQ activist/feminist. That was the reason why I cut my hair. But COVID happened, they were thinking even more, the script was evolving every single day."
Perhaps Tutar’s story could continue in Borat’s next installment, though a third film is reportedly unlikely to happen anytime soon. However, given the secrecy surrounding the character, it seems that if a third film were in development, that wouldn’t be public knowledge. Regardless, the film is another undeniable success from Cohen, and as Borat was nominated for an Oscar, it will come as no surprise if his latest film is as well.
Although Borat Subsequent Moviefilm originally had more in store for Tutar’s character, her arc is still satisfying, and Bakalova’s incredible performance cements the character as unforgettable. There are still many powerful moments worth celebrating in the film, and if the unfinished story means Tutar will return, everything ultimately worked out for the best.
Source: Collider