General Idi Amin Dada - Criterion Collection

Starring:Idi Amin, Fidel Castro, Golda Meir
Director: Barbet Schroeder
Studio: Criterion
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
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
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.

General Idi Amin Dada - Criterion Collection
Average customer rating:

Much More Complex Than Previously Thought

"Triumph of the Will" for the 1970's

Idi Amin- in true form

Amazing, Hilarious, Troubling, & Frightening

Into the mind of evil

General Idi Amin Dada - Criterion Collection
Starring: Idi Amin , Fidel Castro , and Golda Meir
Director: Barbet Schroeder
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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History's Villains - Idi Amin (History's Villains)

ASIN: B000063N7E
Release Date: 2002-05-14

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

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.

Customer Reviews:

Much More Complex Than Previously Thought.......2007-05-18

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.

"Triumph of the Will" for the 1970's.......2007-02-26

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.

Idi Amin- in true form.......2007-01-11

This is a great DVD for anyone researching the character and personality of Idi Amin.

Amazing, Hilarious, Troubling, & Frightening.......2006-10-31

Some of the other reviews have said that the film is not editted properly and 'too slow'. I'm not a film-maker and cannot comment on that other than to say that they are wrong. The film is amazing. I'm not sure if there is ANY other movie or documentary that shows what a serialkiller-cum-dictator-cum-statesman is like. Nowadays people might not know who Idi Amin is, or what he did, so its important to read up a little so you can truely appreciate this movie. He plays accordian? You see him meeting with his 'advisors' (some of whom disappear so after.) You see him play acting like a grown-up boy with toy soldiers. You see his self-appointed royal pedigree and send his support for Nixon! Its fascinating and amazing. This is man that, self-proclaimed, actually ATE some of his rivals (not the whole body I hope). He killed many people directly and by his policies. His ego is outstanding and its an amazing movie. Apparently, there is a new movies coming out about Idi Amin starring Forrest Whitaker. He's a good actor and so I look forward to seeing it. But this is the REAL guy. Its amazing and a feat probably never to happen again.

Into the mind of evil.......2005-09-19

General Idi Amin Dada was one of the most notorious dictators the world has ever seen. He is best know for orquestrating the deaths of over half a million Ugandans and expelling Jews and Asians from the country back in the 1970s. The Criterion Collection recently re-released Barbet Schroeder's documentary about the tyrant with brillantly remastered scenes. The film was shoot during the height of Amin's presidency. Although many parts of the first are just comically, one has to wonder how this man even became a head of state. Amin spends a great part of the film preparing his troops to fight the 'impending' war in Golan Heights. Quite possibly the most controversial moment in the film is when the interviewer asks Amin about his comments in a newspaper article saying that he said more Jews should have been killed during the Holocaust. Amin starts to laugh uncontrollably for a couple of minutes after that. He later says in the film that his country would welcome Palestinian terrorists who brought a hijacked El-AL plane to the country. Coincidentally a week after filmming, Palestinians did actually hijack a Israeli plane and brought it to Entebbe. Amin is also seen in the film making hypocritical statements about women in government and Ugandans being more 'revolutionary' (Check out the revolutionary jazz band at the beginning of the film). The DVD also features an amazing interview with the director. Schroeder talks about how he got Amin to do that memorably bizarre cabinet meeting where he criticizes his staff for not being 'revolutionary.' This is a great film that gets into the mind of evil.

DVD:

DVD

Serendipity [2002] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Tesseract

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