The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Based on the events of the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin's regime as seen by his personal physician during the 1970s

Director:

Kevin Macdonald

Writers:

Peter Morgan (screenplay), Jeremy Brock (screenplay),

Stars:

James McAvoy, Forest Whitaker, Gillian Anderson

Won 1 Oscar. Another 46 wins & 28 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Forest Whitaker	...	Idi Amin
James McAvoy	...	Dr. Nicholas Garrigan
Kerry Washington	...	Kay Amin
Gillian Anderson	...	Sarah Merrit
Simon McBurney	...	Stone
David Oyelowo	...	Dr. Junju
Stephen Rwangyezi	...	Jonah Wasswa
Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga	...	Masanga (as Abby Mukiibi)
Adam Kotz	...	Dr. Merrit
Sam Okelo	...	Bonny
Sarah Nagayi	...	Tolu
Chris Wilson	...	Perkins
Dick Stockley	...	Times Journalist (as Dr. Dick Stockley)
Barbara Rafferty	...	Mrs. Garrigan
David Ashton	...	Dr. Garrigan - Senior

Storyline

In the early 1970s, Nicholas Garrigan, a young semi-idealistic Scottish doctor, comes to Uganda to assist in a rural hospital. Once there, he soon meets up with the new President, Idi Amin, who promises a golden age for the African nation. Garrigan hits it off immediately with the rabid Scotland fan, who soon offers him a senior position in the national health department and becomes one of Amin's closest advisers. However as the years pass, Garrigan cannot help but notice Amin's increasingly erratic behavior that grows beyond a legitimate fear of assassination into a murderous insanity that is driving Uganda into bloody ruin. Realizing his dire situation with the lunatic leader unwilling to let him go home, Garrigan must make some crucial decisions that could mean his death if the despot finds out.

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Plot Keywords:

uganda | 1970s | hospital | scottish | scotland | 

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Taglines:

Charming. Magnetic. Murderous.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some strong violence and gruesome images, sexual content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight

Country:

UK Germany

Language:

English French German Swahili

Release Date:

19 January 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le dernier roi d'Écosse

Filming Locations:

Kampala, Uganda

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$142,899 (USA) (29 September 2006)

Gross:

$17,605,861 (USA) (18 May 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures, DNA Films, FilmFour

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min 121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film opened on general release in Uganda on February 23, 2007.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 35 mins) Just prior to dealing with the Entebbe hostage situation in 1976, Amin is shown sitting beside an issue of Bullet comic from 1977.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Nicholas Garrigan: Come on! Are youse ready?

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Connections

Referenced in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Knight and Day/I Am Love/The Killer Inside Me (2010)

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Soundtracks

Toko
Performed by Momo Wandel Soumah (as Momo Wandel)
Written by Momo Wandel Soumah (as Momo Wandel)
Published by Fonti Musicali
Licensed courtesy of Fonti Musicali

User Reviews

A Taut Political Thriller

Gripping, brutal and powerful, 'The Last King of Scotland' is a brilliant dramatic depiction of the life of megalomaniac Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin, perfectly portrayed by Forest Whitaker in his Oscar-winning performance as one of the greatest casting against type roles seen in film. His Amin is capricious and unpredictable, a personality that can seem volcanic one moment and vulnerable a few minutes later. A blunt and brutal tale, and one that is highly engaging from start to finish. A taut political thriller about power and corruption. Macdonald's riveting and incandescent direction caps this fictionalised drama, a truly stunning flick that remains as a highlight of film in 2006.