General Idi Amin Dada (1974)

In the riveting cinematic portrayal, "General Idi Amin Dada: A Self Portrait", the viewer is offered an intricate exploration of the eccentric dictator of Uganda. The film presents an intimate, behind-the-scenes study of General Idi Amin Dada that is as intriguing as it is unsettling. The audience is taken on an unpredictable journey through a myriad of formal and informal situations, where the charismatic despot reveals his unorthodox theories on politics, economics, and international relations. The camera follows Amin through a kaleidoscope of activities, capturing his life's eccentricities and ambitions. He's seen as the stern supervisor at the Ugandan paratrooper school, a carefree explorer boating through a wildlife park, the quirky accordion player in a jazz band at a formal dinner, and the passionate strategist staging a mock assault on a symbolic representation of the Golan Heights. The film underscores his audacious ambition to eradicate Israel and his outreach to Arab nations. Amin's controversial opinions of world leaders like Nixon and Kissinger are laid bare, and his disturbing commendation of Hitler in a letter to Kurt Waldheim, then Secretary-General of the United Nations, is subtly touched upon. Notably, the film takes us into the heart of a cabinet meeting where Amin berates his ministers, an event made chilling by the subsequent murder of the foreign minister, harshly criticised by Amin. The viewer is also privy to Amin's war-game simulation of an invasion of Israel, his visit to a village, and his address to a conclave of Ugandan physicians. In a shocking revelation on a TV program, it is announced that Amin possesses a 'manual' - the infamous 'Protocols of the Elders of Zion,' which he claims details Israel's plans. "General Idi Amin Dada: A Self Portrait" is a fascinating, yet disturbing tour de force that offers a unique insight into the mind of one of history's most infamous dictators. It is an enigmatic journey through the life of a man who was as charismatic as he was feared, and as compelling as he was controversial.

General Idi Amin Dada is a documentary movie featuring Idi Amin and directed by Barbet Schroeder.

General Idi Amin Dada is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

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