The Last King of Scotland (2006 Film) Literary Elements

The Last King of Scotland (2006 Film) Literary Elements

Director

Kevin Macdonald

Leading Actors/Actresses

Forest Whitaker, James McAvoy

Supporting Actors/Actresses

Kerry Washington, Simon McBurney, Gillian Anderson

Genre

Drama, Biography, History

Language

English

Awards

Won 1 Academy Award: Best Performance by and Actor in a Leading Role: Forest Whitaker

Date of Release

2006

Producer

Lisa Bryer, Andrea Calderwood, Charles Steel

Setting and Context

Uganda during the reign of Idi Amin

Narrator and Point of View

POV is that of Garrigan

Tone and Mood

Serious, Dramatic

Protagonist and Antagonist

Protagonist is Garrigan. Antagonist is Idi Amin.

Major Conflict

Amin has taken control of the Ugandan government after a coup, and Garrigan has become his personal physician. Garrigan is manipulated into believing that what Amin is doing is for the best of the country.

Climax

After Amin dismembers one of his wive's for getting pregnant with Garrigan's baby, he tortures Garrigan, as the doctor has attempted to poison and kill the dictator. Garrigan is able to escape Uganda with the help of Dr. Junju who is murdered for helping him, and make his way back to the United Kingdom in order to tell the truth of Amin's rule.

Foreshadowing

Amin taking over the country's rule with a coup foreshadows that he is a violent man and will use whatever means necessary to have control.

Understatement

It is understated that Amin will kill Kay and discover Garrigan's plot.

Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques

N/A

Allusions

The film is an allusion to the seductive quality of dictators such as Amin who are capable of making people believe whatever it is that they want.

Paradox

Amin is a brutal dictator who's killed many in order to get/keep his power. Paradoxically Garrigan believes the man when he's told he's killing people to keep the peace.

Parallelism

The dismemberment of Kay parallels her attempt to have an abortion, as she's pregnant with Garrigan's child.

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