The Last King of Scotland (2006)

The Last King of Scotland (2006) is a gripping biographical drama that follows young Scottish physician Nicholas Garrigan as he becomes entangled with Uganda’s charismatic — and increasingly monstrous — President Idi Amin during the early 1970s. Told through Garrigan’s eyes, the film moves from the thrilling intimacy of a fast friendship and career opportunity into a chilling study of power, paranoia and moral compromise. Viewers will be riveted by the intense, magnetic central performance and by the film’s shift from warm, sometimes darkly humorous scenes to moments of shocking violence and political brutality. The movie delivers tense, claustrophobic psychological drama as Garrigan’s idealism is worn down by manipulation and growing horror, while also illuminating the historical chaos consuming Uganda. Expect a powerful emotional ride: suspense and dread, occasional wit, strong acting, and disturbing, evocative depictions of a regime spiraling into bloodshed — a film that forces you to confront how charisma can mask cruelty and how personal choices matter under tyranny.

Actors: James McAvoy, Forest Whitaker, Gillian Anderson

Director: Kevin Macdonald

Runtime: 123 min

Genres: Biography, Drama, History

7.1 /10 74 /100 7.6 /10 7.4 /10