I am really looking forward to the release of Sacha Baron
Cohan's (better known as Borat) new film "The Dictator". The rumour has
it that it will be released sometime this summer. I am a real admirer of
Cohan's creative humour and his ability to make people drop their guards and
let their darker sides spill out.
The film is about an autocrat "who risked his life to ensure
that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed"! Reportedly,
The Dictator is a loose adaptation of the novel Zabibah and the King, which is
believed have been written by the former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
I am still rolling on the floor with laughter after looking at the
military decorations our Great Leader-Brother is wearing in the poster of the
film. How true! Our megalomaniac leaders-cum-idiots like to acclaim all sorts
of titles for themselves. Starting from Ayub Khan, who appointed himself the
Field Marshall of Pakistan Army when he was the President of the republic as
well as the commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces, the art was
perfected by Adi Amin. Idi “Dada” Amin converted to Islam (to get some aid from
our other great friend Qaddafi) and his full self-bestowed title ultimately
became "His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor,
Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of
the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in
Particular", in addition to his officially stated claim of being the
uncrowned King of Scotland. Needless to say, he was not a recipient of a
Distinguished Service Order (DSO) or a Military Cross (MC). He conferred a
doctorate of law on himself from Makerere University, and the Victorious Cross
(VC) was a medal made to emulate the British Victoria Cross.
I am sure that Cohan will show the subtle details of how our
Sheikhdoms and Kingdoms and "republics" work in the Muslim world.
Reminds me of the modalities employed by our "democratic" hero, Nawaz Sharif in chose his
Chief of the Army, General Musharaf, while he was the Prime Minister of
Pakistan. Musharaf was superseded over several generals, not based on merit or
ability but rather because his ethnic background was from a minority province
and Nawaz thought that to be of much less a threat to his position as the Prime
Minister of Pakistan. Musharaf went on to boot Nawaz out of power and threw him in jail while declaring himself the "Chief Executive" of Pakistan. Reportedly, he could not think of a more exotic title than a CEO!
Watch this space for a review once the film is released!
No comments:
Post a Comment