• croatiantimes.com
• romaniantimes.at
• salzburgtimes.at
• viennatimes.at
• austrianindependent.com

Today

• Vienna - VESCC English Catholic Mass
• Vienna - Unknown Underground
• Vienna - Cats
• Vienna - Andy Warhol
• Vienna - Laser Tag

© Anna Eriksson

10. 07. 09. - 16:00

• more Panorama news
• RSS Feed Panorama

10. 07. 09. - 16:00

Brüno star defends slur on Austria

Cinemas last night opened their doors for what promises to be the most controversial international film to hit Austria in an age, if the hype is to be believed.

Brüno puts British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, or rather his gay Austrian alter-ego, into painfully real situations that become uncomfortable to watch.

Austrian Times spoke to Brüno's super keen sidekick Lutz, otherwise known as Swedish actor Gustaf Hammarsten, about fight clubs, Austria's reputation, and watching a genius at work.

Cohen operates by putting his characters in the lion's den of the homophobic, racist and downright odd and letting rip with the most inappropriate gags imaginable.

Those who enjoy his no-holds-barred approach to comedy argue that Cohen is exposing the prejudices that people may or may not admit they have but others, Austria's incoming ambassador to London Emil Brix included, claim he goes too far and his slurs against Austria are a step too far.

Hammarsten is certainly in the former camp and says that those who complain Brüno is offensive are simply missing the point.

"If you don’t understand this is comedy, this is satire, then you miss the point. [Cohen] is a Jew himself and he goes through the film saying ‘How can you protect yourself from the Jews taking over the world?’ The purpose of it is the opposite to what people are complaining about," said the 47-year-old. "I think most of the time we are on the same side.

"It was very clear to me watching [Cohen's previous creations] Borat and Ali G. that you could be very upset," said the Stockholm born actor. "I understand why people would say, ‘What are you doing with our country?’

"I don’t know if I’m responsible but of course when you're in this kind of movie you have to think about what its saying. You are responsible in a way," he said. "I knew this was for a good cause though so I felt secure. It’s important to show people their prejudices."

At one point in the film the Cohen and Hammarsten are faced with the threat of very real violence when Brüno and Lutz attend an illegal fight club in America. Hammarsten trusted Cohen and the production team not to get him hurt though.

"I was scared at points I must admit. It was pretty nerve-racking having all those full-on people around you knowing you couldn’t just come in, do your bit and leave," he said. "The production team knew what they were doing though so I felt secure all the time."

Cohen actually spent some time living in Vienna early on in his career which could well have been the inspiration for the film. In fact, Hammersten even admits they spent a lot of the time speaking German on set.

"There was a lot of conversation in German on set as Sacha speaks a bit of German. Obviously there's a lot of conversations we didn't have a clue what we were talking about though!" he laughs.

Richard Wolf

Related articles: star news

1. Man Utd chase Austrian ace

   » Sports 2012-05-23

   Manchester United have signalised interest in David Alaba.

2. Best of the bookshelf in May

   » Panorama 2012-05-22

   The Austrian Times has once again searched the book publishing market of German-speaking Europe to list some of the most interesting releases of the past weeks and months.

3. Supancic sets sails

   » Panorama 2012-05-18

   Mike Supancic is touring Austria.

more related articles tagged "star news"

Related articles: quirky Austria

1. Anti-truancy official for Vienna

   » General News 2012-03-23

   Horst Tschaikner has been named head of Vienna’s new anti-truancy office.

2. Dog days for clumsy Arnautovic

   » Sports 2012-03-09

   Werder Bremen star Marko Arnautovic will be sidelined for more than a month after injuring his knee while playing with his dog.

3. Unanimous praise for State Opera Ball

   » Panorama 2012-02-17

   Political leaders and showbiz stars had only kind words about last night’s (Thurs) Opera Ball.

more related articles tagged "quirky Austria"

Related articles: Brüno mania

1. Austrian version of 'Strictly Come Dancing' to have male couple

   » Panorama 2011-01-12

   An Austrian entertainer tagged as having been Sacha Baron Cohen’s inspiration to create gay fashion journalist Brüno will compete in this year’s "Dancing Stars" show – with a man as his partner.

2. Majority unafraid of bad ´Brüno´ effect, poll shows

   » Panorama 2009-07-30

   The majority of Austrian Times readers think that Austrians do not need to worry about the new "Brüno" movie having a negative effect on the country’s image – because it has already been badly damaged.

3. ´Brüno´ lures Brits to Vienna

   » Business 2009-07-22

   Britons are flooding to Vienna because of Sacha Baron Cohen’s hit comedy "Brüno", tourism bosses in Vienna have said.

more related articles tagged "Brüno mania"

Turks flattened by lone asylum seeker
A furious Nigerian went on the rampage at a refuge for asylum seekers in Leibnitz, attacking several people and damaging property.

Woman bites toddler
A woman who bit a two-year-old tot during a road rage row with her mother is being quizzed by police in Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

New Dany Boon comedy to be filmed in Austria
The French film star Dany Boon, one of the highest paid actors in Europe after his hit film "Welcome to the Sticks", is filming in Salzburg.

China meets Hallstatt
After a long time of speculation and anticipation the exact copy of Austrian world heritage village of Hallstatt-Dachstein in China will be unveiled, and there will be real-life Austrians present for the ceremony.

Skier in court after accident
A man from Graz is in court today accused of having inflicted negligent injury upon a five-year-old when skiing in Carinthia last year.

Two fires in Ottakring claim one life
Two fires started on Thursday evening in the Vienna district of Ottakring, one of which claimed a man’s life. Several people were evacuated as a result of the two blazes.

Cows zapped to death by lightning
Four cows were zapped to death after a lightning strike hit the barbed wire fence they were leaning on in Reith im Alpbachtal, Austria.

Wolf babies born in Schönbrunn
These cuddly Artic wolf cubs have got every right to look a bit frosty - after they emerged into the world for the first time in the middle of a 27 degree heatwave.

Cleaned Out
A Hungarian cleaning woman who stole tens of thousands of pounds worth of antique jewellery from an Austrian Countess and then sold it for "pocket money" unaware of its real value has been jailed by a court in Austria.

Great expectations for summer tourism season in Vorarlberg
The Vorarlberg tourism industry is currently riding high after a record breaking winter season, and the summer season is expected to follow that same trend.

Jobs in Austria