Editorial Reviews and
DVD Information about
General Idi Amin Dada - Criterion Collection
Description
In 1971, the small African nation of Uganda was taken over by self-styled dictator General Idi Amin Dada, beginning an eight-year reign of terror that would result in the deaths of hundreds of thousands. In this chilling yet darkly comic documentary, director Barbet Schroeder turns his cameras on the infamous tyrant, revealing the dynamic, charming, and appallingly dangerous man whose fanatical neuroses held an entire nation in their grip. Made with the full support and participation of the infamous dictator, General Idi Amin Dada provides a candid and disturbing portrait of one of the 20th century's most notorious figures.
Amazon.com
When Barbet Schroeder released his documentary General Idi Amin Dada in 1974, it must have been quite a sensation. Amin gave full cooperation to Schroeder (the documentary carries the subtitle "Self Portrait"), sitting for numerous interviews, stage-managing a series of public appearances in front of adoring crowds, and even scoring the film with his accordion music. Is this joking, amiable "man of the people" the same dictator who put 300,000 people to death between 1971 and 1979? Perhaps it's his anti-Semitic ravings, or his fetish for artillery and military finery, or the aggression that drifts through almost every speech, but there's a schism between the media-managed image and the weirdness and violence churning under his wide smile. Periodic narration strips the façade off a few staged scenes and underscores others with historical background. But apart from the opening footage of a chilling state-sanctioned execution, Schroeder lets the schizophrenic portrait stand on its own: a preening, vain, psychotic clown as aspiring Hitler. It's a curious document, one Amin first embraced, then denounced, but almost 30 years later it isn't enough to answer the questions surrounding this brutal despot. --Sean Axmaker
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Customer Reviews for
General Idi Amin Dada - Criterion Collection
Idi Amin... the Greatest revolutionary leader of our time!
For those who enjoy documentaries about revolutionary leaders such as Fidel Castro, Mandela or Dessalines and Aristide, this is a must see. Idi Amin was indeed the greatest of great revolutionary leaders of our time! A great deal of commentators here that despise him in this film and in general are more than likely simply uninformed, under-informed or simply racist because if you have bought even a few of the THOUSANDS of dvd's that explain the recent US president(s) administration's track record you would quickly realize that no tyrant, dictator or administration on Earth has caused more trouble, murders and wars than the US's presidents, administrations, secret societies and federally employed drug-smugglers... and also maybe people in the west dont like Idi Amin because Idi Amin was known as the "Conqueror of the British empire in Uganda" or maybe because he didnt hesitate to kick America out of Uganda or maybe because he was the chairman of the organization of African Unity. Who knows.. Be that as it may Idi Amin remains one of the most enigmatic and misunderstood leaders to date, i assume thats because the social consciousness of the masses is being/has been dumbed down to a level where we can not fathom a man fighting to do things his way and not the way foriegn nations want him to do it... especially Corrupt and putrid foreign nations whom feed off the weaker of their fellow man with no remorse. Some say General Amin's methods were brutal, but most countries do have legal state sanctioned executions like Uganda, the US, for example, has legal executions and legal torture (research guatanomo bay and abu ghraib if thats new to you).Idi Amin was an example to many, he was proof you do not have to cooperate with evil forces to maintain a society, as Uganda during his reign was not poor in the least. The Great Idi Amin Dada's legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of many forever, because the greatest thing about General Amin, and the thing the people who fear and despise him hate the most...is that he died happy and rich never respecting or bowing down to the evil powers that wanted him to cooperate with their corrupt devilry..and he has over 40 children to continue his mighty bloodline whom some still live by the ancient and grandoise Nile river in Uganda. Idi Amin Dada had the blood of the ancient pyramid builders and was known as "His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular" and in his day that's exactly what he was. LONG LIVE IDI AMIN!!! and free Aristide.General Idi Amin Dada - Criterion Collection
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.General Idi Amin Dada - Criterion Collection
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!General Idi Amin Dada - Criterion Collection
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.General Idi Amin Dada - Criterion Collection
"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.General Idi Amin Dada - Criterion Collection
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