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 1970's.

Director:

Kevin Macdonald

Writers:

Peter Morgan (screenplay), Jeremy Brock (screenplay)

Stars:

James McAvoy, Forest Whitaker, Gillian Anderson

Won 1 Oscar. Another 47 wins & 30 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:

1970s | scottish | ugandan | assassination | doctor | 

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Taglines:

Charming. Magnetic. Murderous.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Thriller

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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:

123 min 121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Kevin Macdonald and his producers met Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni to get permission to film in Uganda. "He really responded to the idea that we wanted to make a film about Ugandan history in the same way that everybody we met responded," recalls Macdonald. "They wanted this story to be told. They didn't feel prejudiced against us because we were foreigners wanting to tell their story - they were very generous, and the president gave us carte blanche and even allowed us to film in the parliament building while parliament was in session. We also had the co-operation of the army and we were allowed to close down the main street in the city."

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Goofs

In 1971 in Uganda number plates were letters and numbers.

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Referenced in The Cult of...: Hamish Macbeth (2008)

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Soundtracks

Butuuse No 1
Performed by Afrigo Band
Produced by Alex Heffes
Written by Moses Matovu
Published by Moses Matovu of Afrigo Band

User Reviews

Good Movie!

I really loved the movie, Forest was GREAT! I do wish it would have been told from Idi Amin prospective or the people, a good book about this is "The Shattered Pearl" by Sara Armstrong. The movie did have facts, but could have had more details on how the people felt living under his Regime. Since so many media outlets were blocked from entering the country at that time, only the people there could have told a more genuine story. I did like the location and the scene selections. When out on DVD I will purchase this one for my collection, we will here more when Oscar nominations role around. But overall good movie, definitely Oscar worthy...Good Job Forest!