General Idi Amin Dada was the ruler of Uganda between 1971-1979. He invited a film crew to record him as he talks about various subjects like other world leaders, his plans to attack Israel and how he aspires to be Africa's Hitler.
I bought the rare OOP Masters of Cinema DVD and couldn't wait to see this film. I had previously seen 'The Last King of Scotland' which is a great film with Forrest Whittickers finest performance as Idi Amin. I never quite realised how accurate his portrayal was. Idi Amin is a ridiculous world leader, who was responsible for the murder of 300,000 people. The film is similar to 'The Act of Killing', where the film invites you to relate with a killer while staring evil straight in the eye.
Despite Idi Amin's kind and heroic ideology, he is completely insane. He fetishises weapons and artillery, he has 18 kids (and divorced 3 wives because they were not revolutionary enough) and his entire regime was amateur and messy. He acts completely psychotic with a loyal country behind him. He may have kicked out all of the Asians which were previously running Uganda, and have the revolutionary ideology many countries aspire to have a leader with, but he is appalling at run a country.
It's amazing that Schroeder and his team were allowed to film extensively with one of the most infamous dictators who has ever lived. Idi Amin is a tall, scary and frighteningly powerful leader, and even being in the same room as him must have been distressing. Idi Amin was expecting a propaganda film, but what Schroeder made was a one of a kind, chilling, mind-boggling documentary. It's remarkable this film was even made. This film works as an insight into 1970s Uganda and the infamous Idi Amin dictatorship, but as a film drops short. I don't know if it was my high hopes for the film, but I found the film uncomfortable and even boring in places. He is a unique and daunting person (to say the least), but 90 minutes of him talking to camera isn't enjoyable at all. About 95% of the film has Idi Amin's face in shot, a sight that isn't pretty. It seems too long, but that may be because of the repetition. Interviews with others about Idi Amin would be more than welcome.
TO CONCLUDE
Intriguing and chilling documentary about one of the most psychotic leaders the world has ever known.
SCORE
75
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