The narrative engine relies on a classic fish-out-of-water dynamic, juxtaposing Aladeen’s fascist, misogynistic worldviews with New York’s hyper-liberal, politically correct culture. The Unrated Difference: What Changed?
"The Dictator" is a 2012 American political satire film written, directed, and produced by Sacha Baron Cohen. The film stars Baron Cohen as two main characters: Hafz Aladeen, a brutal and eccentric dictator from the fictional African nation of Turdina, and his lookalike, Ali G, a stoner and semi-fictitious character also portrayed by Baron Cohen.
The Dictator is a sharp departure from Sacha Baron Cohen’s previous mockumentary style ( Borat , Bruno ). Instead of interacting with real, unsuspecting people, Cohen ventures into a fully scripted narrative comedy. He plays Admiral General Aladeen, the fearsome, narcissistic, and profoundly ignorant dictator of the fictional North African Republic of Wadiya. The Dictator -2012- BluRay UNRATED
A hilarious, fully in-character promotional interview between Aladeen and legendary host Larry King.
Unlike Borat or Brüno , which relied on a mockumentary style to trick real people into exposing their biases, The Dictator is a fully scripted narrative feature film. The narrative engine relies on a classic fish-out-of-water
When he is forced to travel to New York City to address the United Nations, his treacherous right-hand man, Tamir (Ben Kingsley), plots to replace him with a lookalike simpleton. Stripped of his beard, his uniform, and his power, Aladeen must navigate the "most dangerous city on earth" while relying on the help of a well-meaning activist, Zoey (Anna Faris).
This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later. The film stars Baron Cohen as two main
With the help of his former weapons chief, (Jason Mantzoukas), Aladeen plots to reclaim his throne. But along the way, he begins to question whether dictatorship—or democracy—is truly the right path for his people. The film ends with Aladeen giving a speech at the UN that condemns democracy in favor of a "United Socialist Republics of Wadiya," but also includes a surprisingly touching tribute to Zoey and the friends he made in Brooklyn.
| Aspect | Theatrical Version | "Banned & Unrated" Cut | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | R | Unrated | | Runtime | ~83 minutes | ~98 minutes | | Content | The version shown in theaters. Includes "strong crude and sexual content, brief male nudity, language." | Approx. 15 minutes of additional footage. Includes an extended love scene, more female nudity, a different final act, and scenes not in theaters. | | Notable Scenes | Base cut of the story. | Extended interview with Larry King; appearance of "Busty Heart." | | Origin | Theatrical release. | Marketed as "The Version You Couldn't See In Theaters." |
While the film lacks the dangerous, raw tension of Borat , it compensates with a relentless barrage of gags. The humor is typically Cohen: crude, offensive, and boundary-pushing. However, underneath the low-brow jokes about body functions and stereotypes lies a sharp satirical edge. The film mocks Western perceptions of the Middle East, the absurdity of autocracy, and the hypocrisy of American politics.
