"The film is about a small village in a big universe."  Mercedes Stalenhoef, Director

In Carmen Meets Borat, director Mercedes Stalenhoef follows the life of 17-year-old Carmen, who lives in a poor gypsy village in Romania and wants to move to Spain for a better life and a romantic husband, like those portrayed in the Spanish soap operas that fuel her dreams. But her plan to emigrate is sidetracked when an American film crew descends on her village to shoot Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

Carmen and her fellow villagers (none of whom speak English) are led to believe that the film crew is making a documentary about their village, rather than a cruel mockery, and when they learn the truth, they're appalled at how they were used. You may be, as well.

Carmen Meets Borat premiered on European television in 2008.

Mercedes Stalenhoef studied art history at the University of Leiden. The director and writer’s 2002 film I Just Take My Toys With Me was nominated for Best Documentary at the Dutch Academy Awards, and Stalenhoef’s I Never Want to be Famous won the Golden Calf Special Jury Prize at the 2006 Netherlands Film Festival. Stalenhoef has also created films for Amnesty International.

Carmen Meets Borat is premiering nationally on PBS Global Voices, September 5 at 10 PM. Check here for showtimes: http://www.itvs.org/television?film=carmen-meets-borat

• PBS Global Voices
  http://www.itvs.org/television

Interview with Mercedes Stalenhoef

t21: Personal motto?
MS: If you want to know some info, always ask at least two people or three. This world is full of misinformation and people who peddle it. The least you can do before passing on some sort of so-called truth is to fact check it yourself.

t21: What inspired you to make Carmen Meets Borat?
MS: I met Carmen by coincidence on my holiday in Romania. I entered her bar with my friends and soon she discovered that she could practice her Spanish with me. I am half-Spanish. She told me she learned to speak it, by watching Spanish soap programs on television. She told me she wanted to go to Spain and find a rich handsome boyfriend there. The contrast between her daily life and her dreams touched me. I decided to return to Romania to learn more about her and her village Glod and I learned Romanian. Carmen, her family and the people in her village were very inspiring.

t21: Biggest obstacle in making it?
MS: Finding money to make the film was difficult with my original plan. I planned to go with Carmen to Spain, to film her trip. I was curious if she could find happiness in Spain. I started to film before Borat ever came to Glod. When the filmmakers of Borat filmed in Glod the people in the village changed. Especially when the film was released. Suddenly the family of Carmen and some of the villagers were suing Borat for 30 million dollars, an amount of money far beyond their imagination.
I felt sorry that money caused so much problems. But as they are poor I understand their need. In the end, they did not get anything.

For me the aftermath of Borat was interesting. And I was lucky because I got money for my film. My producer Pieter van Huijstee and I wanted to share a bit of it and  we donated 5000 Euro for the community of Glod.

t21: Favorite/most unexpected response to Carmen Meets Borat?
MS: Carmen and her family saw the film before I finished it. They were very moved and cried. Carmen said:"This is my life." She was very proud of the film. I was touched by her reaction.
I asked her and her family if they would like me to change something, but they did not have any objections. Only one thing: Carmen asked if her first boyfriend could be taken out of the film. But in the end, as she is happy with her husband and daughter, she could live with it.

t21: What do you hope viewers will take away from it?
MS: The film is about a small village in a big universe. We all have dreams about a better life and future. I think Carmen has a loving family. Even if she thought she needed to leave her village to find happiness, she did find it in front of her house. Money is important, especially when you don't have enough, but in the end life is not about money. She did not go to Spain, but she did find happiness with her husband and her baby.

t21: The biggest global problem today?
MS: Poverty.

t21: Favorite city or landmark?
MS: Amsterdam. All my friends are there.

t21: Last song that was stuck in your head?
MS: "Partita nr 1" Johann Sebastian Bach

t21: Last meal you made?
MS: Lasagna.

t21:Coffee, tea or water?
MS: Coffee.

t21: Boat, plane or train?
MS: Train.

t21:. Latest obsession?
MS: Diving.

t21:Source of inspiration?
MS: Daily life.

t21: First job?
MS: I was a waitress in a restaurant.

t21: Your next or current project?
MS: I am working on a documentary about singer-songwriter Karsu Donmez. She is called the Dutch Norah Jones.

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