Starring Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy, Gillian AndersonDirected by Kevin Macdonald
It seems that this is the time for silver screen depictions of moments in African history. Films like "The Constant Gardener" (2005) and "Hotel Rwanda" (2004) have brought attention to the issues concerning a region of the world that is often overlooked.
"The Last King of Scotland" follows that trend, as it offers insight into the life and times of Ugandan president and brutal dictator Idi Amin and portrays the horror of a trying time of local and global significance.
Based on a novel by Giles Foden and directed by Oscar-winning documentarian Kevin Macdonald, "The Last King of Scotland" will haunt audiences with its beautiful cinematography; it also boasts a talented cast, including Forest Whitaker as Amin and Scottish-born actor James McAvoy as Nicholas Garrigan, the president's na've personal physician. Even without these merits, this horrifying story will keep viewers engaged.
The film opens with a high-energy speech given by President Amin to an enthusiastic Ugandan crowd, all of whom are enthralled by the intensity of his seemingly well-intentioned rhetoric. Nicholas Garrigan is also in the crowd with his missionary co-worker Sarah Merrit (played by Gillian Anderson).
Garrigan appears to be enamored by the president's persona as much as the rest of the crowd, while Sarah is more skeptical of his intentions due to his reputation of corruption. In the next few scenes, Garrigan finds himself coming to the aid of the president, and, in turn, Amin becomes very fond of Garrigan for his frankness and Scottish roots. The film isn't explicit about why the African dictator feels so connected to this Scottish man, but it seems that Amin's respect comes from his empathetic feelings for a native of another country repressed by the British Empire.
As Amin's interest in Garrigan strengthens and Garrigan is asked to be the president's doctor, the tone of the film is light. Yet a feeling of tension looms as viewers wait for the volcano to erupt. As the film progresses, the story becomes more complex, and the doctor realizes that he has no grasp on a situation that is quickly becoming more dangerous each day.
The atrocities depicted in this film bring issues of genocide and global responsibility to the forefront of the audience's consciousness. One of the most tragic moments in the film centers on the love between one of President Amin's wives, Kay Amin (played byKerry Washington) and Garrigan. Their relationship violates social norms, and the viewer can sense that nothing good will come out of this forbidden love. But Garrigan is swept away by this woman's beauty and sensitive nature.
Though within Amin's thrall, Garrigan goes as far as to tell the president that he believes he is neglecting Kay's child, who suffers from epileptic fits. He continues to play with fire as he naively believes that President Amin is a just man who wants the best for his people, rather than the twisted and corrupt official that he actually is.
The casting is perfect, despite many of the key roles being played by black Americans rather than actual Ugandans. The accents are consistent, and Forest Whitaker superbly depicts the complexity and insanity of Idi Amin.
Although this film is quite graphic and is oftentimes hard to watch, the brilliance of its cinematography, shot in a grainy '70s-esque style, elevates the film's explicit nature. Some sequences are especially artistic, but like "The Constant Gardener" and "Hotel Rwanda," "The Last King of Scotland" never fails to remind us that the greater context is all too real.
