The Last King of Scotland (2006 Film) Symbols, Allegory and Motifs

The Last King of Scotland (2006 Film) Symbols, Allegory and Motifs

Kay

Kay has been captured by Amin's men and brutally killed. Garrigan sees her body dismembered, and this is a symbol of Amin's brutality and willingness to not just kill but gruesomely murder anyone he chooses.

Scotland

Amin and Garrigan become close, and the dictator shares with the doctor that he loves Scotland. Scotland is a symbol of resilience and resistance, two attributes that Amin admires.

Crossing Over

Amin has hired Garrigan as his personal physician but also asks him for counsel in matters of state. This is a symbol that Amin blurs his relationships with people, getting close to them means they can be trusted for as long as he believes they are trust worthy.

Passport

Garrigan's passport is switched from a British one to one from Uganda by Amin. This is a symbol that Amin believes Garrigan to be a threat to him and begins Garrigan's need to escape Amin and Uganda.

To be believed

Dr. Junju rescues Garrigan and helps him to escape, even sacrificing his own life to do so. This is a symbol of Junju knowing that race plays a major role in whether or not the world will believe the horrors that Amin is committing upon the people of Uganda. Dr. Junju tells Garrigan that the world will believe because he is white.

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