Rise and Fall of Idi Amin
Encyclopedia
Rise and Fall of Idi Amin, also known as Amin: The Rise and Fall, is a 1981
biographical film
directed by Sharad Patel and starring Joseph Olita
as Idi Amin
.
The film details the controversial actions and atrocities of the former dictator
of Uganda
, Idi Amin Dada, during his violent rise to power in 1971 until his overthrow in 1979 as the result of the Uganda–Tanzania War. The film was a co-production of the United Kingdom
, Kenya
and Nigeria
, with most of filming done in Kenya
, less than a year after Amin's downfall.
Despite being branded as an exploitation film
, it is actually quite accurate with the facts and dates of the events depicted, including the Israeli raid
, the war with Tanzania
, and the capture and imprisonment of British journalist Denis Hills
(who portrays himself in the film). It does, however, take certain liberties, especially with the portrayal of Amin (such as being shown to be a cannibal
, reflecting a popular rumor). For the most part, the film accurately portrays many real people, including Bob Astles
, Amin's white advisor and assistant.
When released to international audiences, including in the United States
, most of the voices were dubbed
, due to poor sound production. Joseph Olita also played Amin in the 1991 film Mississippi Masala
.
1981 in film
-Events:*January 19 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquires beleaguered concurrent United Artists. UA was humiliated by the astronomical losses on the $40,000,000 movie Heaven's Gate, a major factor in the decision of owner Transamerica to sell it....
biographical film
Biographical film
A biographical film, or biopic , is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their...
directed by Sharad Patel and starring Joseph Olita
Joseph Olita
Joseph Olita is a Kenyan actor who portrayed Idi Amin in the films Rise and Fall of Idi Amin and Mississippi Masala . He also played 1st Policeman in Sheena .-External links:...
as Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
.
The film details the controversial actions and atrocities of the former dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, Idi Amin Dada, during his violent rise to power in 1971 until his overthrow in 1979 as the result of the Uganda–Tanzania War. The film was a co-production of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, with most of filming done in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, less than a year after Amin's downfall.
Despite being branded as an exploitation film
Exploitation film
Exploitation film is a type of film that is promoted by "exploiting" often lurid subject matter. The term "exploitation" is common in film marketing, used for all types of films to mean promotion or advertising. These films then need something to exploit, such as a big star, special effects, sex,...
, it is actually quite accurate with the facts and dates of the events depicted, including the Israeli raid
Operation Entebbe
Operation Entebbe was a counter-terrorist hostage-rescue mission carried out by the Special Forces of the Israel Defense Forces at Entebbe Airport in Uganda on 4 July 1976. A week earlier, on 27 June, an Air France plane with 248 passengers was hijacked by Palestinian and German terrorists and...
, the war with Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, and the capture and imprisonment of British journalist Denis Hills
Denis Hills
Denis Cecil Hills was a British teacher, traveller, author and adventurer.-Biography:Denis Hills was born in the Birmingham suburb of Moseley. He attended King Edward's School, Birmingham before going on to Lincoln College, Oxford in 1932 to read PPE...
(who portrays himself in the film). It does, however, take certain liberties, especially with the portrayal of Amin (such as being shown to be a cannibal
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
, reflecting a popular rumor). For the most part, the film accurately portrays many real people, including Bob Astles
Bob Astles
Robert "Bob" Astles is a former British soldier and colonial officer who lived in Uganda and became an associate of presidents Milton Obote and Idi Amin.-Early life:...
, Amin's white advisor and assistant.
When released to international audiences, including in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, most of the voices were dubbed
Dubbing (filmmaking)
Dubbing is the post-production process of recording and replacing voices on a motion picture or television soundtrack subsequent to the original shooting. The term most commonly refers to the substitution of the voices of the actors shown on the screen by those of different performers, who may be...
, due to poor sound production. Joseph Olita also played Amin in the 1991 film Mississippi Masala
Mississippi Masala
Mississippi Masala is a romantic drama film directed by Mira Nair, based upon a screenplay by Sooni Taraporevala, starring Denzel Washington, Sarita Choudhury, and Roshan Seth. Set primarily in rural Mississippi, the film explores interracial romance between African Americans and Indian Americans...
.
External links
- Rise and Fall of Idi Amin at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...