Movie Review
‘The Last King of Scotland’:
A Terrifying Look at Dictator Idi Amin

By Margaret Lipman (November 14, 2006)

In the 1970’s, over 300,000 people were murdered in the African nation of Uganda.  The man responsible for these crimes was President Idi Amin.  In 1971, General Amin overthrew Milton Obote with the support of much of Uganda and the international community and became president, promising to hold elections that would never come.  Over the next eight years, he would become increasingly paranoid and murderous, ordering the executions of thousands of alleged Obote supporters and other civilians, the great majority of whom were innocent of any crime.  

“The Last King of Scotland” is an account of Amin’s rule, seen from the viewpoint of Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy), a young Scottish doctor who idealistically comes to Uganda in search of adventure and a way to make a difference.  Although he intends to work in a rural clinic, a chance encounter with Amin (Forrest Whitaker) irrevocably links the two men.  Amin is impressed with Garrigan’s abilities and his Scottish heritage and asks him to serve as his personal physician.  The reluctant Garrigan is won over by Amin’s charming manner and the promise of being able to reform Uganda’s health care system and accepts the position. Despite his youth and lack of political experience, he soon becomes Amin’s closest confidant.  Disregarding the insinuations by British officials in Uganda that Idi Amin is secretly murdering political opponents and innocent civilians, Garrigan defiantly (and foolishly) convinces himself that Amin is a good man doing a difficult job and that his British accusers are merely bitter imperialists.

Before long, however, Garrigan realizes that Amin is just as brutal as the British have accused him of being.  Garrigan also realizes he was an unwitting accomplice in the murder of the Ugandan Health Minister, whom Garrigan saw in a suspicious-looking meeting and then casually suggested that Amin talk with him about his activities.  When Garrigan tries to return home, Amin does not allow him to do so, either because he has become so attached to the Scot (Amin frequently refers to him as his son) or because he is suspicious of Garrigan.  Garrigan’s situation is made even more perilous because he has also begun an ill-fated affair with one of Amin’s young, neglected wives (Kerry Washington).

“The Last King of Scotland” (the title refers to Amin, who was always fascinated by all things Scottish, naming himself King of Scotland late in his rule) is a fascinating political thriller made even more terrifying by the fact that it is based on true events.  Forest Whitaker turns in an unexpectedly powerful performance as Idi Amin, positively emulating the dictator’s accent, mannerisms and persona.  He is a humorous politician one moment, a raving madman the next, but is always compelling.  James McAvoy is excellent as Nicholas Garrigan, capturing Garrigan’s transformation from a good-natured, carefree adventurer to a guilt-stricken prisoner trapped in a nightmare thousands of miles away from home.  He is a very sympathetic protagonist because he is not perfect, but is merely a normal, well-intentioned guy susceptible to the human flaws of ambition and pride.  Garrigan himself is actually a fictional character; he is a composite of three real figures, which I did not realize until well after the film was over.  Some of the fictional aspects of the film are a bit unbelievable and make the plot feel a bit too contrived, but this can only be expected and really does not detract much from its emotional power.  I was enthralled for the entire duration of the film, terrified by Amin and captivated by Garrigan, who seemed more real and understandable than almost any character I have ever seen onscreen.  I kept imagining myself in his position, fearfully wondering what I should do and realizing that I might never get home to Scotland.