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Carmen Meets Borat is not what you would expect from a movie called Carmen Meets Borat. Certainly Sasha Baron Cohen, the making of Borat and the backlash from it figure prominently in the movie, but really, this is a movie about a town and, more importantly, one girl in it who sees her surroundings for what they are and has much larger aspirations. It is beautiful, it is sad, it is uplifting, it is wonderful.

When Mercedes Stalenhof decided to go to the little village of Romania while on vacation with a friend, she never expected to meet Ionela, the girl behind the bar and daughter of once of the wealthier families in town. Ionela, who prefers to go by her middle name Carmen (because it is Spanish and therefore exotic), is a very smart girl. Seventeen and already smart enough to be outgrowing the small village she lives in, she feels stuck. She can not fall in love or marry because it will keep her in Glod. She does not want to make connections with her village because it will keep her in Glod. Essentially, she is in a holding pattern until she is able to leave home and go away to something – anything – more exciting. This brilliant girl is in very stark contrast to the village itself and, especially, its people. They are a simple people who are still struggling to find their way after the fall of communism. Carmen’s father, the owner of the village’s bar and largest store (grocery and more), wants so much more for the people of Glod. He wants for them social systems like childcare and pensions. He wants for them better education and running water, but the mentality left over from communism is difficult to change. He feels that it was better under communism and he wishes they could go back. During a break in Stalenhof’s shooting, Sasha Baron Cohen and his crew come to town. Telling the villagers that they are making a ‘documentary’, the village is pleased to have the money – a mere 3 Euro per family, if that. They are pleased to be involved, but when the movie comes out they are furious at the bill of good they were sold. The movie portrays them as Kazaks at the very least and criminals at the very worst. What follows is a very frustrating battle between the villagers, the lawyers, and the studio (although less significantly), but what anchors the film is the story of Carmen as she begins to believe that there may be a place for her in Glod after all and it just might include happiness.

At its most basic, this is a movie about a girl who is too big for hew small town, but smart enough to see its beauty. Carmen is a beautiful, soulfull girl with a great deal of potential – something that Stalenhof saw right off. We are just as fascinated by Carmen as she was, which is why this documentary works so well. Once Borat comes to town a lot of crazy things happen and Stalenhof chooses to follow those events, but always comes back to the story’s anchor which is Carmen.

Seeing the village of Glod through Carmen’s family’s eyes was a very powerful choice. Carmen’s father sees great potential in the town, similarly to the way that Carmen sees how hopeless it is to stay there. Very interesting is his perspective that it was better under the previous Communist regime. Showing many aspects of the daily lives and personalities of the people of Glod makes the the betrayal of their trust by 20th Century Fox and, subsequently the lawyers that get involved in the case, cut so much more deeply for the viewer. They are a simple people, but a simple people with pride and a keen understanding of their place in the world. They are utterly betrayed by the way in which they are portrayed in Borat and this event has significant ripple effects through the community and lives of the people who are central to this story. This is made worse by the subsequent events of Borat’s release, with publicity stunts from lawyers and more. On ABC News Gold was described as a “Godforsaken town” with a name that literally means “mud”.

While I can not think of a better title, it is a shame that this movie is called Carmen Meets Borat, because while it’s true, it doesn’t get to the heart of the movie. Crazy things do happen to the little town of Glod because Broat came to shoot there, but the story is really about Carmen and she’s worth every bit of the attention that Stalenhof gives her. This is a beautiful documentary that took me by surprise and swept me off my feet. It was released for television by the BBC titled ‘When Borat Came to Town’ and I’m certain that it is available. Forgive it it’s title and see it. Carmen, or Ionela, and the people of Glod are worth your time.

Check out the website for Carmen Meets Borat here.