Tsotsi
TSOTSI: DISTURBING, TOUCHING STORY OF REDEMPTION
Tsotsi is a simple and moving story about a boy who has nothing and becomes a man when he comes in possession of a newborn child. The acting is not forced, visuals show unsettling images of life in Africa, and the story follows the boy as he finds his heart after being numb due to his childhood. Its originality shows through with emotional scenes that make him ponder if he should go on with his lifestyle.
Tsotsi (Presley Chweneyagae) means Thug in Johannesburg. That is what he goes by and nobody knows his real name, which is how he likes it. Nobody knows that he had an abusive, alcoholic father and a mother with AIDS. Nobody knows he ran away from them and lived with other runaway children in stacked concrete pipes. He lives a life of crime with his friends Butcher (Zenzo Nggobe) and Aap (Kenneth Nkosi). They steal from people at the train station and occasionally kill their victim. But one night Tsotsi goes out on his own and enters the nice neighborhood across from the slums (also referred to as the township). He carjacks a woman and when she tries to stop him, he shoots her. A short while later he realizes he has her baby son in the car with him. Becoming responsible for this child forces him to think of somebody other than himself and how that affects his outlook on life.
Even though the story is simple, it is enjoyable as it shows this young man growing as he tries to take care of this baby. One particular scene before he comes into contact with the baby is a conversation with a crippled man he has been antagonizing. Tsotsi tries to understand why this man continues to move on with his life even though he has no use of his legs. It is his way of asking himself why he should go on. Scenes like this work due to not only the dialogue but because of Presley Chweneyagae. He is childlike with his facial expressions and is gentle with his body movements as he becomes more attached to the baby. Unsettling images such as using a car battery for electricity along with the contrast of the nice neighborhoods and the township show how poverty stricken this country is. It conveys a message of hopelessness.
There were minor things that could have made the film better. One was that every time Tsotsi needed the baby to be quiet, it did so. It would have been better if he wasn’t as it would have reinforced Tsotsi’s frustration at not knowing how to handle his situation. And the crime lord Fela was an unnecessary character who tries to steal Tsotsi’s friend and have them come and work for him. And Tsotsi’s friend Butcher was a hollow, evil character with no depth.
Tsotsi is a tender, sorrow filled story that shows how an abusive childhood made one boy turn to a life of crime. He is shown what he didn’t have growing up when he mistakenly kidnaps a baby boy. His path to salvation is shown through emotional scenes, disturbing images, and fine acting by actor Presley Chweneyagae.
Report Card:
Story-B
Acting-B+
Visuals-B
Originality/Innovation-B-
Enjoyability Grade –B+
DVD extras-B
Overall Grade-B+
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