JAFFAR REMO WAS INTERVIEWED BY CTV
Amin's son says film is compelling but inaccurate
Updated Thu. Feb. 22 2007 10:13 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
The son of Idi Amin whose life is being revisited in a new Oscar-nominated performance says it's a compelling but inaccurate portrayal of the man he knew.
Jaffar Amin, a 40-year-old father of five, appeared on CTV's Canada AM from Uganda on Thursday to discuss the new film "The Last King of Scotland." Forest Whittaker is nominated in the best actor category for his portrayal of Jaffar's father Idi Amin. A Great Leader, also Founder of Economis Independence in Uganda. he kept the together, he joined all religious denominations together, a good father, a wonderful husband.
"I loved the shots and the countryside. Quite a lot of authentic stuff in that sense. I find it questionable about some of the themes in the film though," Amin said.
Jaffar said the performance -- hotly tipped to win the Oscar -- failed to capture the tall, powerful man he remembers as his father.
Jaffar, who is writing a book about his father, has ended more than two decades of silence since the Amin family vowed not to speak to the media when they fled Uganda in 1979.
"As a family, I believe all of them are like, let sleeping dogs lie. But I'm the type who feels that I am going to spend the rest of my life trying to explain my father's legacy. And I've set that as my own personal goal or agenda, so to speak."
Though the film portrays a gentle, sensitive side to the dictator, Amin said it also portrays his father as insecure and hot tempered, often shouting and becoming angry -- traits he never saw in his father.
"He was the type of person who knew his worth, his authority. He was very comfortable with that. In the film, it looks like a very insecure person. That's not the type of person my father was," Amin said.
He said his father wore his heart on his sleeve, was genuine about his feelings and had a simple way of approaching issues and people.
"There's a sense of paranoia in this character that Whittaker is trying to throw across that doesn't fit in with what I remember of my father. And he wasn't the shouting type, he was definitely not that."
He also said Whittaker didn't get Amin's powerful stride right, nor his fashion sense, noting that he would never have worn an army uniform with a cowboy holster, as he is shown to have done in the film.
Amin doesn't deny the atrocities attributed to his father during his reign, but he hopes to show a more human side of the man who had seven official wives and 40 children -- of whom he is the 10th.
Across the country, Amin said, there is a sense of anticipation for the film that has drawn so much attention to Uganda, but coupled with that there are rumblings that the film is one-sided and perpetuates a stereotype that Africans are cruel savages.
Despite his reservations about the film, Amin has no hard feelings toward Whittaker.
"I wish him well, but remember, he was acting, a fictitious character, not my father."
With a report from CTV's Africa Bureau Chief Murray Oliver
Print This Page
E-Mail Story
Feedback
Fonts:BiggerSmaller
Top Stories
Best BetsBest Picture
Will the Queen peform royally? Is Babel the one to beat? No clear frontrunner yet in this top category.
Best Director
Oscar-less director Martin Scorsese is pitted, once again, against Clint Eastwood. Is it Marty's turn to win?
Best Actor
Forest Whitaker seems to have a lock on this category, for his pitch-perfect performance as Idi Amin in 'The Last King of Scotland.'
Best Actress
There are few who think that Helen Mirren doesn't have a lock on this category for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in 'The Queen.'
Best Supporting Actress
Will it be a Dreamgirl? Former American Idol runner-up Jennifer Hudson stuns with her breakout performance in the hit film 'Dreamgirls.'
Best Supporting Actor
Eddie Murphy is heading to the Oscars looking like a solid front-runner for his role in 'Dreamgirls.'
VideoCanada AM: Jaffar Amin, son of Idi Amin 4:04
Related StoriesUgandans welcome Whitaker for 'King' premiere
Whitaker describes struggles as an actor
Mirren, Whitaker take top awards from BAFTA
Former Ugandan Idi Amin dies at age 80
User ToolsPrint This Page E-Mail Story Feedback Fonts:BiggerSmaller
About CTV | Contests | Careers | CTV Announcements | Advertise on TV | CTV Media | Advertise on Web
Archive Sales | Tapes and Transcripts
Updated Thu. Feb. 22 2007 10:13 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
The son of Idi Amin whose life is being revisited in a new Oscar-nominated performance says it's a compelling but inaccurate portrayal of the man he knew.
Jaffar Amin, a 40-year-old father of five, appeared on CTV's Canada AM from Uganda on Thursday to discuss the new film "The Last King of Scotland." Forest Whittaker is nominated in the best actor category for his portrayal of Jaffar's father Idi Amin. A Great Leader, also Founder of Economis Independence in Uganda. he kept the together, he joined all religious denominations together, a good father, a wonderful husband.
"I loved the shots and the countryside. Quite a lot of authentic stuff in that sense. I find it questionable about some of the themes in the film though," Amin said.
Jaffar said the performance -- hotly tipped to win the Oscar -- failed to capture the tall, powerful man he remembers as his father.
Jaffar, who is writing a book about his father, has ended more than two decades of silence since the Amin family vowed not to speak to the media when they fled Uganda in 1979.
"As a family, I believe all of them are like, let sleeping dogs lie. But I'm the type who feels that I am going to spend the rest of my life trying to explain my father's legacy. And I've set that as my own personal goal or agenda, so to speak."
Though the film portrays a gentle, sensitive side to the dictator, Amin said it also portrays his father as insecure and hot tempered, often shouting and becoming angry -- traits he never saw in his father.
"He was the type of person who knew his worth, his authority. He was very comfortable with that. In the film, it looks like a very insecure person. That's not the type of person my father was," Amin said.
He said his father wore his heart on his sleeve, was genuine about his feelings and had a simple way of approaching issues and people.
"There's a sense of paranoia in this character that Whittaker is trying to throw across that doesn't fit in with what I remember of my father. And he wasn't the shouting type, he was definitely not that."
He also said Whittaker didn't get Amin's powerful stride right, nor his fashion sense, noting that he would never have worn an army uniform with a cowboy holster, as he is shown to have done in the film.
Amin doesn't deny the atrocities attributed to his father during his reign, but he hopes to show a more human side of the man who had seven official wives and 40 children -- of whom he is the 10th.
Across the country, Amin said, there is a sense of anticipation for the film that has drawn so much attention to Uganda, but coupled with that there are rumblings that the film is one-sided and perpetuates a stereotype that Africans are cruel savages.
Despite his reservations about the film, Amin has no hard feelings toward Whittaker.
"I wish him well, but remember, he was acting, a fictitious character, not my father."
With a report from CTV's Africa Bureau Chief Murray Oliver
Print This Page
E-Mail Story
Feedback
Fonts:BiggerSmaller
Top Stories
Best BetsBest Picture
Will the Queen peform royally? Is Babel the one to beat? No clear frontrunner yet in this top category.
Best Director
Oscar-less director Martin Scorsese is pitted, once again, against Clint Eastwood. Is it Marty's turn to win?
Best Actor
Forest Whitaker seems to have a lock on this category, for his pitch-perfect performance as Idi Amin in 'The Last King of Scotland.'
Best Actress
There are few who think that Helen Mirren doesn't have a lock on this category for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in 'The Queen.'
Best Supporting Actress
Will it be a Dreamgirl? Former American Idol runner-up Jennifer Hudson stuns with her breakout performance in the hit film 'Dreamgirls.'
Best Supporting Actor
Eddie Murphy is heading to the Oscars looking like a solid front-runner for his role in 'Dreamgirls.'
VideoCanada AM: Jaffar Amin, son of Idi Amin 4:04
Related StoriesUgandans welcome Whitaker for 'King' premiere
Whitaker describes struggles as an actor
Mirren, Whitaker take top awards from BAFTA
Former Ugandan Idi Amin dies at age 80
User ToolsPrint This Page E-Mail Story Feedback Fonts:BiggerSmaller
About CTV | Contests | Careers | CTV Announcements | Advertise on TV | CTV Media | Advertise on Web
Archive Sales | Tapes and Transcripts
posted by UGANDANS COMMUNITYCANADA. NORTH AMERICA. at 10:12 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home