Romanian villagers sue Borat movie makers for €22m

A JUDGE in New York told lawyers who filed a €22 million lawsuit accusing the makers of the hit movie Borat of misleading residents of a remote Romanian village that they must make specific allegations in their lawsuit if they want it to have a chance at success.

The lawyers said they would re-file the lawsuit, which alleged the residents were duped into participating into what they thought was a documentary that would benefit them rather than the comedy hit.

US District Judge Loretta Preska reminded the lawyers that the lawsuit would have to have specific enough facts alleging the villagers were misled before she could order defendants to turn over documents that might help the villagers build their case.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Nicolae Todorache and Spiridom Ciorebea, two residents of Glod, a Romanian village whose gypsies were used as stand-ins for Kazakhs in the movie.

The lawsuit alleges that 20th Century Fox Film Corp and others involved in the film exploited the plaintiffs and other residents of Glod, telling them the film was a documentary about extreme poverty in Romania that would fairly depict their lives, living conditions, occupations, community, heritage and beliefs.