Borat Is Back

Yes, this is slightly off-brand for me, but I loved BORAT: SUBSEQUENT MOVIEFILM. Even though the original came out 14 years ago (!!), the character and Cohen’s schtick have aged better than I expected, largely because Cohen has brought on a co-star, Maria Bakalova, who absolutely steals the show. Together, Cohen and Bakalova bring Borat’s uncomfortable comedy to insane new heights. It’s the perfect antidote to these hellish times! 

—Julia Hammer, Creative Exec

My rec is a throwback this week: Julie Dash’s beautiful DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST. Released in 1991, this was the first film directed by a Black woman to be theatrically distributed in the US (think about that for a second.). It’s set in a Gullah community on the islands off the coast of South Carolina, and features an entirely Black cast. The film plays more like a visual poem than anything else. It’s a bit hard to follow narratively but I recommend not trying too hard to follow the exact plotlines and instead letting yourself be immersed in the world that Julie has created. The film also captivated Beyoncé, as a lot of visuals from LEMONADE were drawn from it! Check it out on Criterion. 

—Bennett Levine, Executive Assistant