Venice 2022: Bobi Wine – Ghetto President Review

Political strife and the consequences of it on innocent people and those trying to make a change is a torturous procession of good people being punished for their just actions. Bobi Wine: Ghetto President shows just that in a gut-wrenching experience bringing light to a political struggle far removed from the minds of many. Charting the rise and rise of the eponymous popstar turned politician and presidential candidate for Uganda, directing pair Christopher Sharp and Moses Bwayo hit the spot of political struggle in a world that appears to be on the cusp of increasing strife and resentment. Global politics play a hand in the events of Bobi Wine: Ghetto President, or the lack thereof, as briefly noted by the documentary. That is a big problem to tackle, the brief notes that Sharp and Bwayo make are often the moments they should focus on.

As harsh as it may be to call the horrors of political conflict a repetitive ordeal, Bobi Wine: Ghetto President has little else to say beyond those disgusting attacks on political hopefuls. There is no exploration of Wine’s background or influence aside from a handful of inspired moments. There needs to be more explanation for his hunger and desire for change. The attacks and arrests he faces, from being dragged from his car mid-interview to being placed under an unofficial house arrest are powerful scenes that could be stronger had they not been so blurred together. There is a concerning frequency to the setbacks Wine faces as a political activist and campaigner, but the personal touch is lacking somewhat. Scenes with his children and family are brief and while they allude to the emotive core, it does not provide balance to the heavy-set moments of militaristic assaults on his staff.

This is not just a great dissection of Ugandan disarray and the political structure but of Wine’s background as a popstar and how the influence of celebrity can affect political structures, for good or ill. For Bobi Wine: Ghetto President, the former is shown. A voice for the people in every sense of the word, battered, bruised and beaten down by an oppressive regime with an icy grip on the political hot seat. Seeing the impact of that and the values that President Yoweri Museveni tries to keep silent is just as important as seeing the outcry itself. How far people go to cling to power, how resolute some are to resisting their false claims. Bobi Wine: Ghetto President is as shocking as can be expected, but for some, it is a routine portion of life. The fight goes on, and Bobi Wine is the catalyst of a new movement, charted well by Sharp and Bwayo.

Ultimately it comes down to a desire to learn more. Any strong documentary will teach those unaware and solidify those in the know. Bobi Wine: Ghetto President does both and meets its challenges head-on, much like the political hopeful at the heart of this agonizing documentary. It is a documentary that relies on the personality of Wine, who is displayed as a man who loves his country. Good people suffer under oppressive systems, and Bobi Wine: Ghetto President is a chilling example of how even the toughest of opposition and frequent attacks on justice can often go unanswered on the world stage. It gives Bobi Wine: Ghetto President an important platform to document the struggle of a country under a decades-old regime of poor morals.