Babel & The Last King of Scotland

Few would compare academy award nominated films Babel and The Last King of Scotland (TLKS). The latter character focused (Idi Amin, genocidal dictator of Uganda) and is set in Uganda. The former narrative-driven and is simulanteously set in Morocco, America, Mexico and Japan, with subtitles for the non-English langauges (hence the title).

TLKS is about Idi Amin, not about his genocide per se. It reveals the neurosis of a mad dictator through the eyes of a young American doctor unwittingly coerced into serving as Amin’s personal physician. This medical role soon turns political, as he becomes one of the only men that Amin can trust. Forest Whitaker’s performance as Amin is inconspicuously amazing and emotionally devastating. Absolute power corrups absolutely, and power in the hands of a insane man is thorougly corrupting. Amin single-handedly brought about the demise of Ugandan economy, society, and national character.

Both films left me rather down, depressed, if I can use that word. No real redemption or hope is offered in either movie, though there were a few isolated instances of self-sacrificing kindness in both films. Both depict the plight and suffering of humanity, one through violence the other through emotional torment. Though prompted by a single gunshot, Babel does not focus on violence. Instead, it depicts the human search for acceptance, meaning, and love in all the wrong places–family, peers, sex (yes, there are several head-turning nude scenes in Babel), power, and economics. In short, it takes the viewer to the threshold of the gospel, but leaves you with no hope.

If you have a different perspective on the film, please enlighten me. On a more positive note, it is good to know that there are film makers who refuse to compromise certain messages in order to entertain the masses. These films are not entertaining, but they are heart-checking and thought-provoking.