Brüno Banned in Ukraine, Chopped in U.K.

Wed., Jul. 15, 2009 9:11 AM PDT by Gina Serpe

Universal

Trendsetters, take note: Ukraine is the new Kazakhstan.

A week before it was scheduled to open in the former Soviet nation, Brüno has been formally banned by Ukraine from playing within its borders, after the country's Culture Ministry branded the film "immoral" and called its language and sexual imagery "obscene and improper."

Apparently, frontal male nudity, depictions of S&M swingers' parties and simulated sex acts with a ghost aren't what pass for entertainment in the Ukraine (on a related note, God bless America).

The decision to ban Sacha Baron Cohen's latest tour de force came after a 14-member commission appointed by the ministry deemed the film unfit for public viewing, as it could potentially "cause damage to public morals."

The group concluded that the film featured an "artistically unjustified exhibition of sexual organs and sexual relations, homosexual acts in a blatantly graphic form, obscene language, sadism, and antisocial behavior which could damage the moral upbringing of our citizens."

If that's not a tagline for the movie poster, nothing is.

Back in 2006, Ukraine, along with Kazakhstan and Russia, banned Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, on similar grounds.

And oh, how that hurt its box office haul...all $261.6 million of it.

Meanwhile, Britain has found a creative way around any potential offense caused by their native son, with Universal Pictures set to release a second, more teen-friendly version of the film on July 24.

The studio cut out 1 minute and 50 seconds of the original film and, in doing so, managed to lower its rating from an 18-certificate (the U.K.'s equivalent of an R rating), to one that allows viewers ages 15 and under into the theater.

Not that the more mature version has suffered for its raunchiness. Brüno debuted at No. 1 in both the U.S. and U.K. over the weekend.

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Like your comedy with a little less controversy? Check out your options in our Summer Movies 2009: LOL! gallery.