The Last King of Scotland is a thriller set in Uganda and based on the book by Giles Foden, about a young scottish doctor who strikes up an unusual friendship with President Idi Amin in Uganda, soon after he has become the country's President.

The two of them hit it off to such an extent that Gilligan becomes Amin's personal physician and such is Idi Amin's fascination with all things Scottish that he even presses for one of his Army regiments to be kitted out in kilts and playing the bagpipes.

Directed by documentary filmmaker Kevin Macdonald (Touching the Void, One Day in September) this is a fictionalised account of one man's wide-eyed and some would say, naive view of a President who had bags of charm, but underneath a huge amount of insecurity which resulted in a brutal ruling of his country and the killing of anyone who posed a threat to him.

Doctor Nick Gilligan perhaps continued to be in his good books merely because for the most part he was not questioning Amin's methods too strongly and continually saw Idi Amin as something of a hero.

Actor Forest Whittaker gives an Oscar-winning performance as Amin, someone who wanted so much to be a man of the people, reflecting constantly on his humble beginnings, but through paranoia became something much more sinister.

James McAvoy makes light work of colouring Doctor Gilligan in boyish charm and a blinkered naiveity. Gillian Anderson and Vicar of Dibley producer Simon McBurney as a member of Her Majesty's Civil Service based in Uganda, make brief, interesting appearances.

Director Kevin Macdonald is always in control here and The Last King of Scotland is impressive for its rounded portrayal of a dictator going about his work.