Bruno Tackling Israel-Palestine Conflict

We knew that Sacha Baron Cohen was causing trouble in the American heartland as he films Bruno, but apparently he’s mucking things up in a place closer to Borat’s home—the Middle East. Israeli writer and analyst Yossi Alpher and his Palestinian colleague were invited to an interview with a “German rock star,” and while the pair were mostly baffled throughout the interview, afterward it became clear—Sacha Baron Cohen has struck again.

Alpher wrote about his experience in the Jewish newspaper Forward, and points out how much effort was put into making the interview seem part of a legit documentary, purportedly to “explain the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the youth of the world.” Alpher writes, “Obviously, this production company, with its three cameras and large coterie of assistants, was serious and very professional.” Well, until they met the interviewer, described as “a tall, blond-ish man in his thirties, dressed in leather and studs, his face heavily powdered, his arms and chest shaven. He spoke in a heavy German accent, his movements and mannerisms ultra-gay.”

Yup, that sounds like Bruno alright. He tormented Alpher and his colleague by confusing Hamas (the Palestinian political movement) and hummus (the delicious food), calling Muslims Hindus, and demanding to know when the Jews will return the pyramids. Alpher, for his part, seems to have greeted the inane questions with good humor. “We played it straight and square. Nay, we simply are straight and square.” And he even admits that the end product will probably be hilarious.

All of this begs one question: What the hell is this movie going to be about? I had figured Bruno would spend most of his time tormenting Americans, the way Borat did, but if he’s in the Middle East who knows where he’ll wind up next. Maybe he needs to go elsewhere to find more unaware victims? And hey, when do I get my Bruno interview? I promise to play dumb and talk about whatever he wants. I draw the line at racism, but buffoonery is fine by me.