Rating: 8/10
This movie is a character study of the Uganda dictator Idi Amin Dada, who's regime is estimated to have killed up to 300,000 Ugandan's during the 1970's. He is played by Forest Whitaker, who won the Acadamy Award for best actor for this role. His character is developed from the point of view of a young Scotish doctor, who is out for adventure and making a difference. He is lured in by Amin's charm and compelling personality, as well as a desire to assist the "new independent africa" (he would only find out later that the British facilitated the coup that put Amin in power) to become his personal doctor.
Not to give too much away...This movie is really interesting. Amin is a horribly complex character, one that was often highly likable, scary, powerfull, and vulnerable, all at once. Just like the doctor, the audience is unaware, or unwilling to admit, Amin's atrocities. We sympathise with Amin as a fatherly figure, both stern and incredibly loving. We resist the truth, and then it is too late, there is nowhere to go, we are trapped, unable to leave withought horrific damage to our psyche and body. I am glad I was only watching this movie, there are some scenes that are horrific. Yet it is not violent in the traditional sense with masses of people being mowed down in a genocide(ie Blood Diamonds).
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