Sacha Baron Cohen goes for controversy for upcoming mockumentary

Jan 9, 2009 11:45 GMT  ·  By

When “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” was released in 2006, to much public and critical acclaim, but also to create a huge controversy, it was actually believed that British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen had done his best to get people outraged. From what the tabloid The Sun is reporting, the actor is far from over in this respect, and we will get to see this once “Bruno” comes out this year.

According to what sources on the set tell the tab, Cohen has done the unthinkable for his latest mockumentary, which now goes by the simple title “Bruno,” but which will probably receive a more generous denomination before release. Thus, the comedian seems to have included in the cast for the flick a character played by a black actor, who goes by the name of Jesus, is dressed in cloth and wears a crown of thorns.

As the British media is saying, this can’t but be a move that shows that “Cohen is set to infuriate religious groups,” especially since early reports indicate that the US audiences that have been showed bits of the new film did not find the religious reference one bit amusing. “Sacha has really gone for the shock tactics this time. The characters were created deliberately to wind certain sections of society up and Jesus is one of them. It won’t be the first time Sacha has landed himself in hot water. The water might be a little hotter this time round though. Religion isn’t always the best place to poke fun.” one source told The Sun.

In “Bruno,” the multi-award winning comedian plays the part of Bruno, a fashion correspondent from Austria who, in the manner of Borat, wants to get in touch with the real world. From media reports, it has been understood that, just like “Borat,” “Bruno” will be a mockumentary, in that its entire appeal will reside in the fact that most characters in it will actually believe they’re doing a documentary.

Many cultural and popular references have been included in “Bruno,” the same spy revealed to the British media. One of the strongest, and which will probably end Cohen’s good relationship with pop queen Madonna is that to her adoption of Malawian David. In the film, Bruno and his boyfriend are said to recreate Madonna’s steps, also to adopt a little boy named David.   

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