Director
Kevin Macdonald
Leading Actors/Actresses
Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Kerry Washington, Simon McBurney, Gillian Anderson
Genre
Drama, Biography, History
Language
English
Awards
Won 1 Academy Award: Best Performance by and Actor in a Leading Role: Forest Whitaker
Date of Release
2006
Producer
Lisa Bryer, Andrea Calderwood, Charles Steel
Setting and Context
Uganda during the reign of Idi Amin
Narrator and Point of View
POV is that of Garrigan
Tone and Mood
Serious, Dramatic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist is Garrigan. Antagonist is Idi Amin.
Major Conflict
Amin has taken control of the Ugandan government after a coup, and Garrigan has become his personal physician. Garrigan is manipulated into believing that what Amin is doing is for the best of the country.
Climax
After Amin dismembers one of his wive's for getting pregnant with Garrigan's baby, he tortures Garrigan, as the doctor has attempted to poison and kill the dictator. Garrigan is able to escape Uganda with the help of Dr. Junju who is murdered for helping him, and make his way back to the United Kingdom in order to tell the truth of Amin's rule.
Foreshadowing
Amin taking over the country's rule with a coup foreshadows that he is a violent man and will use whatever means necessary to have control.
Understatement
It is understated that Amin will kill Kay and discover Garrigan's plot.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
N/A
Allusions
The film is an allusion to the seductive quality of dictators such as Amin who are capable of making people believe whatever it is that they want.
Paradox
Amin is a brutal dictator who's killed many in order to get/keep his power. Paradoxically Garrigan believes the man when he's told he's killing people to keep the peace.
Parallelism
The dismemberment of Kay parallels her attempt to have an abortion, as she's pregnant with Garrigan's child.
