A new documentary, 'How to Feed a Dictator', directed by Andrew Neel and edited by Brad Turner, delves into the culinary lives of some of the world's most repressive leaders. The film showcases lavish dishes prepared for figures such as Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein, Augusto Pinochet, and Kim Jong-il.
The documentary features interviews with the chefs, who express varying degrees of denial regarding their involvement with the repressive regimes. Charles Otonde Odera, for instance, recounted preparing a human heart for Idi Amin, while Chilean cook Coco Pacheco expressed pride in serving Augusto Pinochet.
The film starkly contrasts these opulent meals with the widespread starvation experienced by citizens under these dictatorships. Journalists Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Riccardo Orizio provide analysis on this aspect of dictatorial cuisine.