8 Celebrities Who Fraternised With Dictators

6. Barbet Schroeder And Idi Amin

Amin SchroederThe Dictator: Idi Amin, last king of Scotland and all round mentalist The Celebrity: Barbet Schroeder, French film director The Friendship: Not all dictator/celebrity friendships have been founded on naivety. Barbet Schroeder€™s documentary €˜General Idi Amin Dada: A Self Portrait€™ was intended as a candid portrayal of the Ugandan dictator. If Schroeder can be accused of fraternising with Amin, it was only to get the film made. Unfortunately, he was dealing with the self-styled €˜His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular€™, which is the longest ever euphemism for insane. Bad things were bound to happen- and they did. Mindful of the lurid stories about Amin- particularly the ones regarding his fondness for human flesh- Schroeder kept him on side by editing two versions of the film. For Ugandan audiences, there was a puff piece presenting Amin favourably. Outside of Uganda, the film was much less flattering, and, as it ended up for hundreds of French people, much more dangerous. When this version was released, Amin demanded that Schroeder make further cuts. Schroeder did so, because if he hadn€™t, 200 French citizens of Uganda would have been blown up by army tanks in what amounts to the most homicidal example of executive meddling in film history.

Schroeder restored the footage after Amin had been deposed, by which time an estimated 300,000 had perished under his rule. The lesson for celebrities should be obvious- don€™t get pally with anyone who cites Hitler as a hero. It can be all take and no give.

 
Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

I am Scotland's 278,000th best export and a self-proclaimed expert on all things Bond-related. When I'm not expounding on the delights of A View to a Kill, I might be found under a pile of Dr Who DVDs, or reading all the answers in Star Wars Trivial Pursuit. I also prefer to play Playstation games from the years 1997-1999. These are the things I like.