The Dictator
The Dictator is a 2012 political satire black comedy film co-written by and starring Sacha Baron Cohen as his fourth feature film in a leading role. The film was directed by Larry Charles, who also directed Baron Cohen's mockumentaries Borat and Brüno. Baron Cohen, in the role of Admiral General Aladeen, the dictator of the fictional Republic of Wadiya visiting the United States, stars alongside Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, and Jason Mantzoukas with uncredited appearances by John C. Reilly and Garry Shandling. Producers Jeff Schaffer and David Mandel said that Baron Cohen's character was inspired by real-life dictators with personality cults like Kim Jong Il, Idi Amin, Muammar Gaddafi, Jean-Bédel Bokassa, Mobutu Sese Seko, and Saparmurat Niyazov. The film's opening credits sarcastically dedicate it "in loving memory" to Kim Jong Il, who died in 2011. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $179 million.
This is an historic moment. Admiral General Aladeen of Wadiya is going to be signing the first democratic constitution in the history of his nation. Across the globe, people are glued to their television sets. The people of Wadiya are celebrating what will be a new chapter in their country.
The Dictator
Don't know what that meant. Maybe they shared a hot dog together, I'm thinking? That would make sense. He's wiping the mustard off his face and chest. Excuse me! You have to let me in. You don't understand. He's trying to stop the signing! Tamir is now speaking. Today, we begin a new era.
The Dictator
What are you doing? This man is an imposter! No! This traitor tried to kill me and had my beard removed! Look! Arrest the viper Tamir! And now in another amazing turn of events, Tamir Mafraad is being taken away. This constitution is nothing but a license for oil companies and foreign interests to destroy my beloved Wadiya! Wadiya will remain a dictatorship!
The Dictator
Why are you guys so anti dictators? Imagine if America was a dictatorship. You could let 1% of the people have all the nation's wealth. You could help your rich friends get richer by cutting their taxes and bailing them out when they gamble and lose. You could ignore the needs of the poor for health care and education. Your media would appear free but would secretly be controlled by one person and his family. You could wiretap phones, you could torture foreign prisoners. You could have rigged elections. You could lie about why you go to war. You could fill your prisons with one particular racial group and no one would complain! You could use the media to scare the people into supporting policies that are against their interests. I know this is hard for you Americans to imagine, but please try. I will tell you what democracy is!
The Dictator