General Idi Amin Dada: A Self Portrait

In the early 1970s, Barbet Schroeder asked the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin if he could make a documentary about him. Much to his surprise, the vain Amin thought this was a great idea, and gave Schroeder free rein to film him—but only under Amin’s own direction, of course. Amin determined which events the film crew could attend, such as a reenactment of an attack on the Golan Heights, and a swimming competition won by the great leader himself.

An exceptional part of the film consists of recordings of a consultation with the council of ministers—in this context, “consultation” meant a tirade from the tyrant, who was concerned about Uganda’s international image. Several weeks later, the Minister of Foreign Affairs responsible for improving that image was found dead in a river. Naturally, Amin thought he would be getting a propaganda film, but Schoeder’s editing and voice-over leave no doubt about the real nature of the superficially charming and witty former general. This version could only be shown after Amin’s death: while still alive, he forced the removal of scenes and commentary he didn’t like by holding all French nationals in Uganda hostage.