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Can Sacha Baron Cohen Make People Like Dictatorships?

We asked some people who'd just seen his new film.

Above this text is a clip from the new Sacha Baron Cohen movie, The Dictator. As of yesterday (May 16th) the movie is now screening in cinemas the length and breadth of the land.

For better or worse, the Dictator, AKA General Aladeen, is now upon us. Totalitarian rule is – and call me old-fashioned here if you want – not something that we the public traditionally see eye-to-eye with. So we traipsed down to the earliest screenings of

Annons

and asked some people who'd seen it if it had managed to change their opinion on despots. Bikas, 20 (left) and Nikunj, 19. VICE: What did you think of dictators before you saw The Dictator?
Bikas: They’re horrible.
Nikunj: Horrible. Would you be a dictator?
Nikunj: Whyyyyyyyyy not! What would you do if you were a dictator?
Bikas: Buy all the cars, yes! The Lamborghinis, the Porsches – all of them! What kind of dictator would you be? I’m thinking specifically what kind of look you would go for.
Gold robes. Opulent and demanding, I like it. What do you think of dictators now?
Still horrible. Left to right: Robert, 60, Roy, 70 and Chris, 64. VICE: How did you guys find the film?
Roy: Well it can be offensive, but it actually reflects what’s going on in the world these days. Too close for comfort.
Chris: I would agree. Would you be a dictator?
Roy: I don’t understand how they get all that bloody power!
Robert: Who’d want to be a dictator? You just spend your life getting shot at. What three things would you do if you were all-powerful?
Chris: Give water to the Third World and good things like that.
Robert: [pointing at Roy] He’s the most like a dictator! Look at him, look at that beard! LOL, Robert.

Samuel: Democracyyyyy! Baulius, 27. VICE: Alright Baulius, what’s your opinion on totalitarian leaders?
Baulius: Politically, I don’t think so. But I think the film is a pretty close portrayal, a life of opulence, of having zero consideration for anyone else. So the opulence is good?
Well, all those riches and people catering to your any whim… I don’t think it’s for me, though. There must be something that could tempt you into a life of unmatched tyranny?
Hmmm… Unlimited travel. Like a private jet?
No, I don’t think so. But not economy, I’d probably travel first class.

I'm so bored of this conversation, Baulius.