The Last King of Scotland...

**macwilkin** · 29th September 06, 01:30 PM

...was Idi Amin Dada (according to Idi Amin!)

Anyone see the previews for the new movie "The Last King of Scotland", with Forrest Whittaker as Idi Amin? It's a fictionalized account of a Scottish doctor, who is Amin's personal physician. In a number of stills from the film, Whittaker is wearing a diced glengarry and in in two, he is wearing a kilt in the Government sett with two pipers.

The real Amin was in the old King's African Rifles, and had quite the affinity for the Scots, even offering to be Scotland's "monarch" as well as "President-for-life" (and dictator) of Uganda.

Should be an interesting movie.

Regards,

Todd

**McClef** · 29th September 06, 01:32 PM

I'm not sure that Amin was the best advert for a kilt with his record.

But should be an interesting film nonetheless.

**macwilkin** · 29th September 06, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by McClef

I'm not sure that Amin was the best advert for a kilt with his record.

But should be an interesting film nonetheless.

Aye, you'll get no' arguement frae me on that! Amin was a brutal dictator.

But, it should be interesting to see his "passion" for Scotland displayed on the screen again. I remember seeing a movie when I was younger about the Israeli raid on Entebbe back in 1976, and Yaphet Kotto, who played Amin in that film, was wearing a diced glengarry on several occasions.

Regards,

Todd

**MacHummel** · 29th September 06, 02:29 PM

A great canadian band called Spirit of the West have a song called King of Scotland its about Idi Amin

**TimC** · 29th September 06, 02:33 PM

Passion for the Scots and the culture can be found in many people, even in those who's passions lacked the ability to show compassion.

-Tim

**McClef** · 29th September 06, 04:49 PM

Hmm saying that at least Amin liked things Scottish is a bit like saying at least Hitler was kind to dogs.

I gather it's not a strictly accurate historical account but I will reserve judgement until I have seen it.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 29th September 06, 05:30 PM

I had forgotten that a movie about Idi Amin with this title was in the works. We were contacted a while ago at the museum by a researcher for the film -- he wanted to know what tartan Amin wore! There are a few very grainy black and white photos that show him wearing a kilt.

I searched forever and could find no photos of Amin in a kilt that were anything but dark and grainy, so I never could positively ID a tartan for them.

But this should be an interesting movie!

If I remember correctly, Amin gave his sons all Scottish clan names. One was MacLachlan, I think. I can't remember the others.
Matt

**Fearnest** · 3rd February 07, 08:09 PM

Saw the movie tonight - absolutely wonderful performance by all the performers!

And there are quite a few kilts in the film - Amin and a Ugandan marching unit are the most memorable (different tartans as I recall). Also some glengarry bonnets; more berets than bonnets, though.

Trying to remember the two Amin sons named in the film - "Mackenzie" and "Campbell" come to mind.

Also a few shots of a Scotland t-shirt.

It's certainly not a good advert for things Scottish, but it is a great film (and has a very beautiful Gillian Anderson featuring prominently in the early portion). It wasn't as bloody or violent as I had assumed from the trailers - and brought back a lot of memories of that era.