By Karen - 09 September 2021
The focus of the film seems to be the dictator, but I think the sweet-looking little doctor is the novelty of the film’s perspective. This Scottish doctor is not exactly the many Westerners who went to developing countries to ruin and ran away with their tails. Is it typical? Rather than describing the moodiness, brutality, or human nature of the dictator Amin, the film shows the complex relationship between the West and Africa, and to a certain extent, it honestly writes the absurdity and randomness of it.
At the beginning of the movie, the little doctor picked Uganda casually. He didn't know anything about this country and didn't want to know. When he arrived in another country, he didn't even know who the president was. He is here to have some fun. Of course, this fun is a bit more special than the average Scottish medical school graduate. He is not satisfied with drinking and drinking at home. He hopes to explore and experience a different culture. It is best to have a dip. A girl with a difference, at the same time "make a difference". You see, isn’t this a very common Western hippie?
Therefore, Dr. Garrigan did not take Uganda seriously, as the hateful dictator at the end of the movie said, he thought it was a "game". This includes that he and Amin have made friends and become confidants, but he feels that he can withdraw at any time. This includes his affair with Amin's wife. It can't be said that he and Kay have no real relationship. They are playing with other people, but he didn't really think about that girl, or didn't realize that he needed to do it at all. When he went to discuss the abortion, the black doctor said, "This is the only option you leave her."
But is the little doctor really a bad person? I think he is an ordinary self-centered person, born in a comfortable and wealthy country, and he can't experience real suffering, nor can he discern real evil keenly. Whether you say naive or naive, this is a common problem of people with a good life, and it is difficult to overcome. Empathy is hard.
This film has no special achievements in showing the cruelty of dictators, far inferior to "The Killing Field", but it is still very characteristic in showing the arrogant and willful attitude of Westerners towards Africa. It's ironic to let such a good-looking James play it.
At the end of the movie, the black doctors who really have a sense of morality also have high hopes for the little doctors. It cannot be said that it is unreasonable. This is a very common mentality, but the foreshadowing is a bit thin.
The Amin in the movie is convincing. There have been many neurotic dictators in the history of mankind. Every dictator should make us more alert to the power of power, but, obviously, there is not. Amin is not the first and will not be the last tyrant. There is only hope that more and more people will not be charmed in the future.
