Brilliant film and standout performance from Forest

Rating: 8/10 (7 June 2007)

Like, I suspect, a lot of people in the world, I know little or nothing about Uganda or her history. I do know something about Idi Amin but like so many Brits, we are fed only half truths and propaganda which suits other ends. This film follows the James McAvoy character Doctor McGarrigan from medical school, which he passes, through to his 'adventure' in Africa and Uganda in particular. His intentions are genuine enough; he wants to help the Ugandan people and render any medical assistance he can, but Uganda at this time is going through a massive political upheaval and McGarrigan, initially with Gillan Anderson's character, becomes awe-struck and fascinated by Amin's hypnotic brand of politics. After one incident involving a cow on the road, McGarrigan comes to Amin's attention and, finding out he is Scottish, is brought into Amin's political and family spheres.
There is an element of innocence lost about this film. MacAvoy's character starts out as a wild eyed young man looking for adventure in Africa and encountering women on the way which he sleeps with. He falls for one of Amin's wives along the way, after helping the man's son who has epilepsy and becomes tangled up with her, only to get her pregnant (unsurprising, considering you have two quite young people together and contraception isn't used). Amin discovers this and kills his wife and unborn child horribly and then tortures McGarrigan with the aim of killing him. Fortunately for him, he escapes during a hostage rescue attempt.
Several things stand out about this film. The first is obviously Forest Whitaker as Amin. He is completely believable and even looks the part and sounds it. The second is the portrayal of a country undergoing political change at a frightening pace and not always for the better, the third is Gillian Anderson in a good role. Another interesting point is the occasional perspective from which this is shot: it is shot not always from a white man's perspective although there are elements of 'deepest, darkest Africa' which creep in from time to time. For McAvoy's character, Africa is treated as an adventure: have fun, do a job and sleep with a few women. He is young enough to get away with it, up until a point.