Social issues in film...Current affairs and all that

Rating: 8/10 (19 June 2007)

At the moment, my English teacher is giving us some kind of current affairs lessons, and we've been talking about the situation of Darfur, in Africa, and the thousands of people who are dying while the world sits back and does nothing. I'm talking about genocide, and what Idi Amin did in Uganda in the seventies has no difference.
Kevin Macdonald brings these events to the screen, taking them from a screenplay by the daring Peter Morgan and by Jeremy Brock, based on the novel by Giles Foden. These are the times when I regret not having read novels before watching films based on them. My teacher read the original novel and was a bit disappointed by the film but, then, that's something that happens all the time. In another contrasting way, maybe it's better I didn't read the novel before; otherwise I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the film as much as I did.
I found the screenplay fascinating, for example: full of clever phrases and of interesting use of the African language. In this Uganda full of hope, as Macdonald first show us, is where Dr. Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) has ended up. We first meet him sitting at the table with his parents, celebrating his graduation. His father, also a doctor, congratulates him but doesn't forget to mention his degree was more impressive. We clearly see the tension in the family and Nicholas decides to get away.
Now we are in Africa and, as the movie sees things from the doctor's perspective, everything seems amazing. The scenery, backed by the never-failing African traditional music, inspires happiness; mostly when Nicholas is scared by the presence of an army with guns and a woman tells him: "It's OK. There's a new president. This is a good day for the people". Young and innocent are the word to describe this doctor, who arrives looking for adventure, willing to help, but ends up tangled in the most unexpected events.
Director Macdonald, a documentary filmmaker, takes on his actually first fictional film (his last film "Touching the Void" was a mix of fiction with documentary), but it wouldn't be wrong to say that he is 'documenting'; because in the end, he's telling a true story. Right now he has completed a new documentary about a Gestapo commander; and the documentary that got him an Academy Award is about the Munich Olympic Games in 1972.
This is a man making movies with social conscience; and I don't if it's his team or what, but "The last king of Scotland" is so gripping that you can't take your eyes off the screen, whether it's showing massive killings or passionate dialogue. In this latter aspect lies the film's best quality; showing the terrifying relationship between Nicholas an Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker). I'm talking about two people who look at each other and may be hiding a big amount of things; people who thought they knew each other but started witnessing revelations about the other, basically in their looks.
"The last king of Scotland" relies on looks a lot, because the camera is always looking. Anthony Dod Mantle's cinematography is something I enjoyed very much. He leaves no doubt that Africa is a country where violence is an everyday issue, when he clearly lets us see the gun Idi Amin is carrying the first time we see him. And his men, armed all the time and carefully looking. The way Mantle moves the camera up and down in an unpredictable manner; the way he picks up things, little details in every scene and takes the time to show them as he shoots the environment as a whole; the way he observes Forest Whitaker's face are parts of his more than effective work. There were some key moments where the film implemented flashbacks I think weren't needed, and the impact and comprehension could have been better achieved without them.
Anyway, what a fierce, masterfully controlled and insuperable look Whitaker has on his face; popping those eyes which come from this superb performance, because, among other things, he takes on the role as if he had ruled the country himself. James McAvoy's Nicholas doesn't stay behind, having a hard time to swallow while he looks at the dictator with the terror I was talking about. The young actor is apparently establishing himself among the rising British talents, now with leading roles in various films. Kerry Washington is also very impressive as Amin's wife, with little moments of great strength.
Also apparently, Idi Amin was a charming man; one that you would want to give a chance to, as Nicholas says early in the film. Well, Uganda gave him a chance; and look what happened.