USA: Forest Whitaker talks about the challenges of portraying Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland"

Visiting the picturesque town of Capri to promote his latest film, "The Last King of Scotland" and to receive an award from the Capri, Hollywood International Film Festival, American actor/director Forest Whitaker talked about the challenges of portraying Ugandan leader, Idi Amin. The film is based on the events of the brutal regime as seen by his personal physician during the 1970s after seizing power in a military coup in 1971. When asked if the word, 'sociopath' accurately described one of the most notorious dictators of the 20th century, Whitaker discussed Idi Amin's progressively paranoid state as a wider portrait of the human condition. "Sociopath? I guess... Look, he's possibly responsible for 300 thousand deaths. It's so many deaths, it's incomprehensible to visualize that in your head.... It's just that he is a very complicated person and there is reasons why that occurred, why he became that person." Recently nominated by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for a Golden Globe nomination for best actor, Whitaker is appreciative of the honour but is simply trying to enjoy the moment. "I think you better just enjoy the fact that they are acknowledging you right now and celebrate that. Seriously, I'm not ... I don't believe I'm trying to be humble or anything of that nature, but I really think you never know." Joined by his wife, Keisha Whitaker and four sons, Whitaker received a Casino of Venice Capri Legend Award for his 25 years in the film industry including iconic films such as "Platoon, "Good Morning, Vietnam", "The Crying Game" and "Bird" - which he received an award from the Cannes Film Festival and a Golden Globe.

ITN Source | January 4, 2007

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