Barbet Schroeder's documentary on Idi Amin had two versions; hostage situation forced re-edit

The Two Faces of a Monster: How a Filmmaker Trapped by a Dictator Forced a Propaganda Cut

Swiss director Barbet Schroeder learned a terrifying lesson in realpolitik when he documented the life of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. The result was a film with two starkly different identities: one fawning, one damning.

Amin, suspicious of the truth, asked Libyan agents to watch the alternate cut in Britain. When he learned how the world would see him, he took nearly 200 French nationals hostage.

Schroeder’s documentary explored both Amin’s professional and personal life. It was released in two distinct versions: a flattering portrayal for Ugandan audiences, and a separate cut for the rest of the world that depicted Amin as unpredictable and delusional.

• In one scene, Amin verbally berated a cabinet member on camera.
• The documentary’s narration noted, chillingly, that the politician was found dead in a river two weeks later.

Upon discovering the international cut’s unflattering tone, Amin reacted with ruthless paranoia. He ordered Libyan agents to watch the film in Britain and report back.

The response was immediate and terrifying: Amin took almost 200 French nationals hostage in Uganda. The hostages were given a specific instruction: call Schroeder at his home in France. They were told they would not be released until the director re-edited the documentary to Amin’s liking.

Faced with the threat to dozens of innocent lives, Schroeder complied and made the requested changes.

"The hostages were instructed to tell Schroeder they would not be released until he re-edited the documentary to Amin's liking."

The full, uncensored version of the movie would not be seen again until Amin was overthrown five years later.

During his eight years in power, Amin’s regime is estimated to have been responsible for the deaths of up to half a million Ugandans.