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Rise and Fall of Idi Amin

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This article is about the film. For details of the real-life rise and fall of Idi Amin, see Idi Amin

Rise and Fall of Idi Amin
Film poster
Directed bySharad Patel
Written byWade Huie
Produced bySharad Patel
StarringJoseph Olita
Thomas Baptiste
Leonard Trolley
Denis Hills
CinematographyHarvey Harrison
Edited byKeith Palmer
Music byChristopher Gunning
Distributed byInternational Film Marketing[1]
Release date
  • 25 August 1981 (1981-08-25)
Running time
101 minutes
CountriesKenya
Nigeria
United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$26 million
Box office$4 million[2]

Rise and Fall of Idi Amin, also known as Amin: The Rise and Fall, is a 1981 biographical film directed by Sharad Patel and starring Joseph Olita as Idi Amin. Olita also played Amin in the 1991 film Mississippi Masala.[3]

Plot

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It details the controversial actions and atrocities of the former dictator of Uganda, Idi Amin Dada, during his violent rise to power in 1971 until his overthrow in 1979 as the result of the Uganda–Tanzania War. Rise and Fall of Idi Amin was a co-production of the United Kingdom, Kenya, and Nigeria, with most of filming done in Kenya,[4][5] less than a year after Amin's downfall.[6]

Historical accuracy

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Despite being branded as an exploitation film, it is reasonably accurate with the facts and dates of the events depicted, including the Israeli raid, the war with Tanzania, and the capture, imprisonment and sentencing of British journalist Denis Hills (who portrays himself in the film) on espionage and sedition charges following comments about Idi Amin in a book that Hills had written.[1]

Reaction

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When released internationally, most of the voices were dubbed because of poor sound production.[7]

The film won five awards, including best actor, at the Las Vegas International Film Festival.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b Canby, Vincent (19 March 1982). "AMIN'S RISE AND FALL". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 293. ISBN 9780835717762. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
  3. ^ Oloo, Eric (3 June 2014). "Idi Amin actor Joseph Olita dies in Siaya". The Star. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  4. ^ Odhiambo, Nelcon (2 June 2014). "Star actor in the Rise and Fall of Idi Amin dies in Siaya". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  5. ^ Odhiambo, Nelcon (2 June 2014). "Star actor in the Rise and Fall of Idi Amin dies in Siaya". Daily Nation.
  6. ^ Ashaba, Anita (3 June 2014). "Joseph Olita who Acted As 'Idi Amin' Passes On At 70". Archived from the original on 17 July 2014.
  7. ^ "'Idi Amin' actor dies aged 70 in Kogelo, Siaya". Kenya Satellite Network. 2 June 2014. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  8. ^ Obituary: Joseph Olita on playing Idi Amin at YouTube
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