The Last King of Scotland, a film by Kevin Macdonald, with Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy

23 March 2007

I’m not sure how exactly to classify The Last King of Scotland since it’s not actually a true story in itself, though the portrayal of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker), and his reign of terror, is certainly accurate.

The Last King of Scotland tells the story of Amin’s rise to power through the eyes of Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy), a graduate doctor from Scotland, who through various turns of events becomes Amin’s personal physician.

Garrigan’s euphoria at being newly arrived in Uganda matches that of the Ugandan people, and their belief that the then new leader Amin would turn the fortunes of the country around. Garrigan’s subsequent lapse into depression and despair also parallels that of Uganda, as the previously charismatic and apparently affable Amin becomes increasingly tyrannical and oppressive.

Whitaker’s fits-like-a-glove portrayal of Amin surely matches that of Helen Mirren in The Queen.

Originally published Friday 23 March 2007.