8 Celebrities Who Fraternised With Dictators
6. Barbet Schroeder And Idi Amin
The 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 Schroeders 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 hadnt, 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- dont get pally with anyone who cites Hitler as a hero. It can be all take and no give.