I stepped into media services library at UGLi, wanting to borrow some movie titles to watch over the weekend. Sensing my lack of direction on movies that i wanted to watch, the guy at the reception recommended this show.
The Last King of Scotland
Synopsis: A Scottish doctor on a Ugandan medical mission becomes irreversibly entangled with one of the world’s most barbaric figures: Idi Amin. Impressed by Dr. Garrigan’s brazen attitude in a moment of crisis, the newly self-appointed Ugandan President Amin hand picks him as his personal physician and closest confidante. Though Garrigan is at first flattered and fascinated by his new position, he soon awakens to Amin’s savagery--and his own complicity in it. Horror and betrayal ensue as Garrigan tries to right his wrongs and escape Uganda alive.
FYI, Uganda is an East African country bordered by Kenya ,Rwanda and Congo. Idi Amin was one the most brutal dictatorial martyr in the history of Uganda, which used to be a British colony. Amin was responsible for more the massacre of more than 300,000 Ugandan lives, most of whom were from the opposition party.
I felt this show did good justice to portraying Amin's brutality. Though most of the film was based on facts, but Nicholas Gariggan, the leading actor-cum-doctor in the movie, was a fictitious character. I just felt maybe we didn't need any fictional character to reflect Amin's cruelty at all. But perhaps, this also helped to achieve a balance in an otherwise heavily skewed perspective of Amin. I really love shows about Africa, because it brings back great memories about the warmth and simplicity of the Zimbabweans. Perhaps they might be worrying about their next meal, but they would never refuse your request, or take those smiles off their faces. The maize filled, seemingly unending fields and the dances & songs perfectly set those memories back in place.
Btw, there were plenty of REALLY gruesome scenes in the movie, and there were many great references and historical digs made at British colony, Amin's character etc etc. Definitely read up a little on Uganda before you embark on this brilliant show released just last year.
