An interesting debate is circulating in Hollywood and in the gay community concerning comedian Sacha Baren Cohen’s new film, Bruno, which attempts to satirize homosexuality and its prejudices. Gay activists, however, are concerned that it will have the counter effect on American audiences, and demoralize their fight for equal rights.
The gay community has made tremendous gains in the past couple months as a total of 6 states have now legalized same-sex marriage. And certain members who have been active in protests and civil rights prejudice are worried the satire “could reinforce negative stereotypes about homosexuals” (Alex Dobuzinskis, Reuters) just as they are making decent headway in controversial territory like California.
GLAAD has requested that Universal Pictures add a message from Cohen addressing the importance of gay rights and tolerance to the film, but Universal has said it believes audiences will understand the film’s ‘positive intentions.’ (Reuters)
The studio hit back at the criticism, claiming the film’s satirical nature is mean to combat homophobia, not make it worse. “Bruno uses provocative comedy to powerfully shed light on the absurdity of many kinds of intolerance and ignorance, including homophobia,” the studio said. Though GLAAD activists aren’t so sure this will be the outcome.
“We do feel the intentions of the filmmakers are in the right place – satire of this form can unmask homophobia – but at the same time it can heighten people’s discomfort with our community,” Richard Robinson, senior director of media programs for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, said in a statement.
Cohen has practically become a household name after his surprise hit comedy Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan made 128 million dollars at the North American box office, and 133 million worldwide. Borat was a mockumentary that followed a Kazakh journalist while he tours America’s heartland. But will a film, in a similar format, about a gay Austrian fashion reporter even be of interest to the wide movie going audience, which largely consists of young men? “It’s going to be interesting to see if a bunch of teenage boys actually care to go,” gay activist Cathy Renna told Reuters.
Cohen’s Bruno character is a wanna-be celebrity who wears ‘mesh shirts, talks with a lisp and has a penchant for dropping his pants.’ (Reuters) His similar encounters with Americans, like his character Borat, get some disgusted reactions by those who take him seriously. One scene, in particular that GLAAD is concerned with shows Bruno having sex with a man in a tub, while his adopted baby sits close by. “That wasn’t really unmasking homophobia, and especially in a country where same-sex couples can still be denied the ability to adopt children that they’ve raised since birth. Trivializing gay families isn’t a joke,” Robinson said.
Some gay rights supporters, however, are in favor of the film’s approach. Brad Luna, from the Human Rights Campaign says he believes the film may have the potential to “let everyone in on the joke and to really change the way homophobia is viewed.” (Reuters)
My guess is that the group who would normally find these types of films offensive won’t bother going anyway, but it remains to be seen whether or not the film even proves to be a hit. If it’s successful, the gay community may have more reason to worry about its future circulation.
Picture Source: www.cbc.ca/
