General Idi Amin Dada (A Self Portrait) (Full Screen)

Instead, this documentary is painfully slow and repetitive, leaving the viewer to mutter in exasperation: "My kingdom for a decent film editor/producer!" throughout. It doesn't take much to show that Amin was a psychotic and sociopathic buffoon, yet director Barbet Shroeder just drags out scene after scene, taking three times as long to explicate a scene as necessary. The interminable Cabinet meeting, where Amin rambles on and on to a roomful of terrified and uncomprehending (the Cabinet members probably didn't understand a word of Amin's English) stooges. There is no sense of pacing, economy, or focus---it's as if Amin just allowed the director to tag along with a camera for a few days under the condition that Shroeder never ever edits or cuts anything he shoots.

Best viewed after a cup or two of very strong coffee.

DADA THE STATESMAN: Schroeder became interested in documenting Dada's reign when he read about the numerous telegrams the general sent to various world leaders. For example, Richard Nixon received a message from Dada consoling him on the Watergate tragedy. Kurt Waldheim got one discussing the role of Germany in the Jewish holocaust, stating that the Jews are not a "good influence" and remarking on German complicity in the Munich terrorist attack at the 1972 Olympics. When Dada heard about economic difficulties in England, he sent a message offering three tons of vegetables in order to help feed the starving masses of London. Despite tensions with neighboring President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, General Dada dropped a line telling the man that he loved him and would marry him if Nyerere was a young woman, but since he was a man he wouldn't think of doing so. The world hasn't seen a statesman like Dada since the reign of Caligula.

DADA THE POLITICIAN: Schroeder got General Dada to call a cabinet meeting so the filmmakers could observe the fearless leader in action. After some initial hesitation, Dada complied. The proceedings of this meeting would be humorous if everyone in the room didn't look as though they were afraid for their lives. The general's agenda for the day included such instrumental directives as getting the people to love their leaders, an attendance policy for all cabinet meetings (three absences and you're out of government), and how the foreign minister does a lousy job. The filmmakers break in at this point to announce that two weeks after this meeting occurred, the foreign minister died "suddenly." A personal appearance by the general in a local village looks like a genuine outpouring of love and admiration until we learn that officials planned the whole thing before the chopper carrying Dada even arrived.

DADA THE MILITARY GENIUS: Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar cannot compare with this esteemed tactician. General Dada takes the film crew on a tour of a mock invasion of the Golan Heights, which Idi wants to reclaim for his Arab allies. In a show of force that certainly caused Moshe Dayan and Golda Meir to call an emergency meeting of the Knesset, Dada marshals his forces: one tank, one helicopter, a plane or two, and about twenty troops armed with assault weapons. A single flare marks the end of the exercise, which the general declares an overwhelming success. We do discover later that Uganda possesses several more jet fighters that perform admirably as air cover for a military parade. It's lucky for the world that Dada's regime ended in 1978 because the combined might of the world's armed services could never withstand such a powerful foe. When siding with the Arabs against Israel, Dada cites such authoritative texts as "The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion" as proof of the treachery of the Jews. That this pamphlet is a proven forgery cooked up by the Russian secret police at the turn of the twentieth century makes no impression on this lovable leader.

DADA AS ECONOMIC POLICYMAKER: Dada had a dream one day about Uganda's economy, so after finishing breakfast he promptly issued a decree expelling all Israelis and Asians from the country. Since Asians ran 80% of the economy, inflation and other economic woes soared. When discussing capitalism and communism, Dada claims that Uganda is revolutionary, but subscribes to neither of these economic systems. He states that Uganda has "no policy at all." Do I need to go on?

Dada often comes off as quite likeable, smiling and laughing heartily along with the film crew over reminiscences and jokes. He takes the filmmakers on a tour of the Nile that is interesting and appears to be fun. We see Dada's family, see him dancing and joking with the people, and jamming with a local band. It is difficult to see the monster behind the laughter, but the evil is there even if it seems as banal as Herr Eichmann. "General Idi Amin Dada" is a fascinating look into one of the twentieth century's most important political phenomena, the power mad dictator. Thanks to Schroeder for making this important film, and thanks to Criterion for bringing it to DVD with a gorgeous picture and excellent sound.