The Self Portrait subtitle is somewhat ironic. Director Barbet Schroeder (producer of several Eric Rohmer classics and featured actor in Beverly Hills Cop 3) was invited to Uganda from France to shadow and film Dada, where much was clearly staged for his benefit. That resulted in a puff piece for Ugandan television. But this is essentially a director's cut, the feature released internationally with all the things Dada didn't want shown, including footage the director could only safely put back after Dada's death. We even see footage of him directing the cameraman himself. This version is a scathing indictment and more importantly, a fascinating character study because it involves additional layers. It's often funny; a truly once in a lifetime glimpse behind a dictatorship.
So Criterion's 2002 DVD was General Idi Amin Dada's debut on disc. Eureka later put out a barebones DVD in the UK, but that was it until Criterion reissued it in HD with their 2017 blu-ray, which is still the film's sole BD release to this day. Fortunately, it's pretty excellent.
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2002 Criterion DVD top; 2017 Criterion BD bottom. |
Both discs feature the original mono with optional English subtitles, but dialogue is definitely clearer on the blu's new LPCM track.
Criterion's original DVD wasn't exactly a special edition, but it did include an (interlaced) interview with the director, where he helpfully tells the story behind the project. That and an insert was it, though. So it's nice that when they upgraded the disc, they kept the original director interview, but also conducted a new one. In addition, they've interviewed a journalist about the real Dada and the history around the film. It's still not exactly a packed special edition, but it does feel like a fuller overall experience, and it receives my highest unqualified recommendation.
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