Should I laugh or cry? Idi Amin is both the most amusing and terrifying of personalities to behold. This wonderful piece of documentary film making allows Idi the opportunity to manipulate a camera crew to his own ends. He basically takes charge and attempts to portray himself as he sees himself, which at times is comical and at others is rather unsettling as the camera documents him in moments of great joy and utter insanity. As good as it gets if you're interested in Idi, and as dark as it gets if you're a lover of human nature and its darkest reaches. Well worth the money.
Idiot Amin at its "best" ... The movie shows a black meat blob so decadent, that it looks more than a comedy for Klu-Klux-Clan members who need a proof for racistic actions. The scenes are of a higher situative sarcasm as the worst black comedy can ever present. Nevertheless the documentation is boring as well and this leads to MINUS of one star. Normally that trash deserves ZERO. The content is idiotic, that black Nero a miscreation and the whole scenarios not worth a view. Crabfactor: 10 STARS!Much More Complex Than Previously Thought Having lived in Uganda, on-and-off, for over 5 years, I was under the (false) impression that Idi Amin was simply another ruthless African military dictator. Open and shut. Did Amin govern Uganda with an iron fist? Without a doubt. Were over 300,000 Ugandans murdered during his presidency? It's a historical fact. Was Amin an uneducated, eccentric baffoon? By western standards, yes. However, as you'll be able to observe from this documentary, Amin was very popular throughout black Africa, especially in Uganda. I have spoken with Ugandans whose parents were slaughtered by Amin that still think he was a "great leader of Uganda." When Amin died in 2003, there was a massive popular outcry for him to be given a state funeral in Kampala. How is this possible?
When Amin came to power in 1971, he was the darling of the British government, who described him as a "splendid type." Shortly thereafter, Amin provided a state funeral for the popular and exiled Bugandan king Mutesa. Also, he freed numerous political prisoners who had been wrongfully detained by Milton Obote's regime. He was famous for throwing lavish parties, and personally entertaining guests from all parts of the world. In the begining, Amin was committed to democratic government and free elections. At various points during his administration, he had the financial and military backing of the UK, USA, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Admittedly, Amin was a soilder and not a politician.
While Amin was a murderous African dictator, was he any worse than his contemporaries or his successors in black Africa? Certainly, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire and Daniel arap Moi of Kenya have comparable "amounts" of blood on their hands. As cold blooded as this may sound, in the geo-political context of sub-Saharan Africa, Amin's biggest fault was his inability to cover his tracks.
At issue, this documentary is a must see for any serious student of Ugandan history and current affairs. Moreover, it provides a visual medium to observe the many layers of a megalomaniac. "Triumph of the Will" for the 1970's My review's title is not to imply Barbet Schroeder is a manipulative filmmaker like Leni Riefinstahl, nor to say the film looks at Idi Amin purely in a positive light. (both are far from the truth) It refers to the fact this film, like "Triumph of the Will," looks at a cruel dictator during the height of his power, and while he was alive and well enough to actually partake in the film. Because of this, the documentary holds some historic importance not just for African history, but world history in general.
The documentary is a fairly straightforward one. Some have found it boring, and admittedly there seems to be not much form to it. (although in Schroeder's defense, few documentaries are) Much of it is following Amin around and watching his daily life, as he would probably most like to see it. He gives the film crew a tour of Uganda wildlife, (including a focus on crocadiles) allows them to film a cabinet meeting, and displays a wargame simulating an attack on the Golan Heights. At times it almost seems like Idi Amin is greatly enjoying the limelight - during the wargame he is pointing up to the sky saying, "Film that jet!" or "Film that helicopter!" and the cameraman complies. If you're interested in Idi Amin or African history, then it will interest you and provide insight on a regime that eliminated hundreds of thousands of Ugandan citizens. If you aren't, then it probably will bore you, and be thought of as a cookie-cutter documentary.
The special features include an interview with director Barbet Schroeder on how the film came about and what it was like to work with Idi Amin. Two interesting stories in particular arose from it. One was when Amin and Schroeder were watching Ugandan television footage, and Amin was infuriated that it showed him shaking hands with a foreign diplomat using his left hand. Schroeder replied, "No, that's normal, it happens everywhere - it just means the editor switched the footage around." Amin replied, "Oh! So it was the editor!" What Schroeder hadn't realized was that the cameraman had already been killed, and Amin afterward killed the editor. Schroeder kept his mouth shut after that. The second story involves the film's initial release. Amin was not happy with the original cut, and demanded Schroeder edit the film. When Schroeder refused, Amin rounded up 150 French citizens in Uganda and threatened to kill them unless Schroeder complied. Schroeder did, and the film wasn't restored to its original cut until after Amin had been overthrown in 1978.
A rare personal look into one of the cruelest dictators of the 20th century. I would recommend it to any one interested in the subject matter, most definitely.Idi Amin- in true form This is a great DVD for anyone researching the character and personality of Idi Amin.
