 A
new 'documentary' by the man behind Borat will open in New York at the
beginning of next month. Provocatively titled Religulous (think 'religious' and
'ridiculous'), it will mock the beliefs of the world's major religions,
recruiting unwitting assistance from the ranks of the faithful.
The project has already inspired protests at its premiere at the Toronto film
festival earlier this month, and US satirist Bill Maher and director Larry
Charles have been accused of misleading participants. Maher has conceded that
several sleights of hand were necessary to persuade people to perform.
Unlike Borat, both Charles and Maher have made it clear that, while they were
looking for comic potential from their engagements with believers, their
ultimate aim was not to poke gentle fun but to demolish.
Employing the same robust approach as Supersize Me and Bowling For Columbine,
Religulous sees Maher challenge his interview subjects over their knowledge of
the literal historic facts of their religions.
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Maher described the type of
audience he hoped to provoke: 'Any religious person. The point is to question
what is usually made to be unquestionable in this country. Normally if you say
the word "faith", the debate is over - no matter what incredibly nonsensical,
destructive, ridiculous tenet comes out of your mouth.
The determination to offend is not limited to the US market. A specially
commissioned international poster, unveiled this month, depicts three monkeys as
a rabbi, the Pope and an imam.
So far it appears to have been the Roman Catholic church that is threatening to
take the most offence, perhaps because of Maher's connection.
Bill Donahue, the president of the Catholic League, said: The problem is not
the poster. It's Bill Maher. He has said some of the most vile things. He can
say all he wants about being ecumenical, but it's only one religion he really
has it out for, and it's the Catholic religion.
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