The Rise and Fall of Idi Amin (1981)

I have always had a strange love of totalitarian dictators. There is something that is just beyond amusing and hypnotic about their eccentric dictatorial antics, and when it comes to bizarre, few can top His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular. This exploitation flick from 1981 really makes no pretense to historical accuracy, and in some ways one has to wonder if this is not closer to the truth than Barbet Schroder's documentary on Idi Amin, in which the infamous general comes off as a pretty fun (and normal) guy to hang around with. (According to Wikipedia, the film is actually quite accurate, and some of the people involved, like British journalist David Hills, play themselves.) Here we have decapitated heads in the freezer, cannibalism, weird and wild sex, blood and gore, and surreal slapstick comedy. Though dedicated to the victims of Amin's rule, this is firmly exploitation territory, and the filmmakers revel in as much tasteless schlock as they possibly can. Who knew that despotism could be so entertaining? Joseph Olita is, to say the least, bombastically magnetic as the titular character, and actually very much like the actual Amin himself. There is also plenty of bad dubbing, and hamstrung performances. Also, the film was a co-production between the UK and Kenya, and directed by an Indian. Talk about multiculturalism.