Tsotsi (2005)

Six days in the violent life of a young Johannesburg gang leader (Chweneyagae).

Director:

Gavin Hood

Writers:

Athol Fugard (novel), Gavin Hood

Stars:

Presley Chweneyagae, Terry Pheto, Mothusi Magano

Won 1 Oscar. Another 13 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Presley Chweneyagae	...	Tsotsi
Terry Pheto	...	Miriam
Kenneth Nkosi	...	Aap
Mothusi Magano	...	Boston
Zenzo Ngqobe	...	Butcher
Zola	...	Fela
Rapulana Seiphemo	...	John Dube
Nambitha Mpumlwana	...	Pumla Dube
Nonthuthu Sibisi	...	The Baby
Ntuthuko Sibisi	...	The Baby
Jerry Mofokeng	...	Morris
Ian Roberts	...	Captain Smit
Percy Matsemela	...	Sergeant Zuma
Thembi Nyandeni	...	Soekie
Owen Sejake	...	Gumboot Dlamini

Storyline

In Johannesburg, a small time criminal, Tsotsi, is a teenager without feelings, hardened by his tough life. After a series of violent gang hits, Tsotsi hijacks a car. However, whilst driving, Tsotsi finds that there is a baby on the back seat. He brings the baby to his house in the slum. The next six days bring about a change in him that couldn't be foreseen.

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Plot Keywords:

baby | slum | criminal | ant | youth | 

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Taglines:

Hope Set Him Free

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some strong violent content

Details

Official Sites:

MK2 [fr] Official site

Country:

UK South Africa

Language:

Zulu Xhosa Afrikaans English

Release Date:

23 December 2005 (South Africa)

Also Known As:

Il suo nome è Tsotsi

Filming Locations:

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$47,179 (New Zealand) (2 June 2006)

Gross:

$2,912,363 (USA) (7 July 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

The UK Film & TV Production Company PLC, Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa, The National Film and Video Foundation of SA

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the first Miramax release since founders Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein left the company.

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Goofs

When Tsotsi enters the room of the kidnapped child, you can see (on the right hand side) that the wall paper is false.

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Quotes

Morris: [after hearing a defining moment in Tsotsi/David's childhood] What kind of bastard would break a dog's back?

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Connections

Featured in The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Munt'omnyama"
Written by T. Kgosinkwe, A. Muphemi & T. Seate
Performed by Mafikizolo

User Reviews

A true gem

Seldom do I see a film that makes me want to start babbling about it to everyone I meet. I even registered just to vote and to say a few words.

Beautiful pictures, simple story and one tremendously talented actor by the name of Presley. This man is a national treasure to be cherished as a god of African cinematography. I had the feeling that he could make even the worst movie with the most tragic script into Shakespeare. Don't let the world forget this actor, because seldom do you see such raw talent, so much body and facial expression and so much depth. And he probably doesn't even have a formal education.

Congratulations to Gavin Hood, the Polish producers and above all to Lance Gewers, who I think should win Camerimage.

There was a question at the press conference, where one of the press seemed almost disgusted that Gewers did the unfashionable and instead of filming from the hand like in "City of God" he decided for the static approach. I hate fundamentalism of any sorts and it seems that right now everybody thinks hand-filming to be the only way to go.

I agree with Gewers: If a film is shot from the hand then the story stops being about the people and becomes about 'technical tricks'. Lance Gewers, I salute you.