''Rise and Fall of Idi Amin'', also known as ''Amin: The Rise and Fall'', is a 1981

biographical film A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudra ...

directed by Sharad Patel and starring

Joseph Olita Joseph Ogola Olita (31 March 1944 – 1 June 2014) was a Kenyan actor who was best known for portraying Idi Amin in '' Rise and Fall of Idi Amin'' (1981) and '' Mississippi Masala'' (1991). Early life and education Joseph Ogola OlitaIdi Amin Idi Amin Dada Oumee (, ; 16 August 2003) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. He ruled as a military dictator and is considered one of the most brutal despots in modern w ...

. Olita also played Amin in the 1991 film ''

Mississippi Masala ''Mississippi Masala'' is a 1991 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 ...

''.

Plot

It details the controversial actions and atrocities of the former

dictator A dictator is a political leader who possesses absolute power. A dictatorship is a state ruled by one dictator or by a small clique. The word originated as the title of a Roman dictator elected by the Roman Senate to rule the republic in times ...

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...

Idi Amin Dada Idi Amin Dada Oumee (, ; 16 August 2003) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. He ruled as a military dictator and is considered one of the most brutal despots in modern w ...

, during his violent rise to power in 1971 until his overthrow in 1979 as the result of the

Uganda–Tanzania War The Uganda–Tanzania War, known in Tanzania as the Kagera War (Kiswahili: ''Vita vya Kagera'') and in Uganda as the 1979 Liberation War, was fought between Uganda and Tanzania from October 1978 until June 1979 and led to the overthrow of Uganda ...

. ''Rise and Fall of Idi Amin'' was a co-production of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

, and

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

, with most of filming done in

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

, less than a year after Amin's downfall.

Historical accuracy

Despite being branded as an

exploitation film An exploitation film is a film that tries to succeed financially by exploiting current trends, niche genres, or lurid content. Exploitation films are generally low-quality "B movies", though some set trends, attract critical attention, become hi ...

, it is reasonably accurate with the facts and dates of the events depicted, including the Israeli raid, the

war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

with

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...

, and the capture and imprisonment of British journalist

Denis Hills Denis Cecil Hills (8 November 1913 – 26 April 2004) was a British author, teacher, traveller and adventurer. He came to international prominence in 1975 while he was living in Uganda and was sentenced to death for espionage and sedition follow ...

(who portrays himself in the film).

Reaction

When released internationally, most of the voices were dubbed because of poor sound production. The film won five awards, including best actor, at the Las Vegas International Film Festival.Obituary: Joseph Olita on playing Idi Amin
at YouTube

References

External links

Rise and Fall of Idi Amin
at the

Internet Movie Database IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...

* 1981 films British biographical films Cold War films 1980s exploitation films Films shot in Kenya Films set in the 1970s Films set in Uganda Cultural depictions of Idi Amin Nigerian biographical films Operation Entebbe War films based on actual events 1980s biographical films 1980s historical films Films scored by Christopher Gunning Films about coups d'état Kenyan drama films 1980s English-language films English-language Nigerian films English-language Kenyan films Nigerian drama films 1980s British films {{bio-film-stub