Tsotsi (2005)

Popularity:

Down 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Gavin Hood

Writers:

Gavin Hood (written by)
Athol Fugard (novel)

Release Date:

4 May 2006 (Germany)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

In this world... redemption just comes once.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Baby | Slum | Criminal | Vomiting | Bathing A Baby

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 16 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

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
Israel Makoe	...	Mandla, Tsotsi's Father
Sindi Khambule	...	Tsotsi's Mother
Benny Moshe	...	Young Tsotsi
Bheki Vilakazi	...	Newspaper Vendor
Craig Palm	...	Young Cop
Jeremiah Ndlovu	...	Old Man at the Tap
Sibusiso Mkize	...	Young Aap
Lindokuhle Tloubatla	...	Miriam's Baby
Samuel Tsebe	...	Older Kid with Knife
Katlego Maribune	...	Little Boy at Pipes
Tumi Sejake	...	Little Girl at Pipes
Juwarriyah Nkopane	...	Little Girl at Pipes
Lennox Mathabathe	...	Policeman
Eduan van Jaarsveldt	...	Policeman
Brian Rolfe	...	Identikit Officer
Mbali Khumalo	...	Fela's Girl
Joyce Moshoeshoe	...	Member of Fela's Gang
Moses Timati	...	Member of Fela's Gang
Enoch Tsotetsi	...	Member of Fela's Gang
Edward Oliphant	...	Member of Fela's Gang
Capheus Manamela	...	Member of Fela's Gang (as Capieus Manamela)
Ishmael Songo	...	Member of Fela's Gang (as Ismael Songo)
Marven Lekopotsa	...	Fela's Driver (as Marven Lekohotsa)

Directed by
Gavin Hood

Writing credits
Gavin Hood		(written by)
Athol Fugard		(novel)

Produced by
Sam Bhembe	....	executive producer
Joseph D'Morais	....	executive producer
Janine Eser	....	associate producer
Liza Essers	....	co-executive producer
Basil Ford	....	executive producer
Henrietta Fudakowski	....	associate producer
Peter Fudakowski	....	producer
Alan Howden	....	executive producer
Gavin Joubert	....	line producer
Robert Little	....	executive producer (as Robbie Little)
Rupert Lywood	....	executive producer
Doug Mankoff	....	executive producer
Paul Raleigh	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Paul Hepker
Mark Kilian

Cinematography by
Lance Gewer

Film Editing by
Megan Gill

Casting by
Moonyeenn Lee

Production Design by
Emilia Roux		(as Emelia Weavind)

Art Direction by
Mark Walker

Set Decoration by
Nhlanhla Bhengu

Costume Design by
Nadia Kruger
Pierre Vienings

Makeup Department
Tania Brooke	....	key hair stylist
Tania Brooke	....	key makeup artist
Shiralee MacLachlan	....	assistant makeup and hair
Graham Press	....	prosthetics
Werner Pretorius	....	prosthetic sculptor: special makeup effects technician
Jaco Snyman	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Nerissa Black	....	post-production manager
Candice Tennant	....	production manager
Linda A. Borgeson	....	executive in charge of post-production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Kellond	....	first assistant director
Phillip Mosoeu	....	third assistant director
Dylan Speer	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Bobby Cardoso	....	art department member
Francis Grewe	....	construction foreman
Michael Hyman	....	lead scenic
Charles Keylock	....	graffiti artist
Sheona Mitchley	....	props
Raymond Muller	....	construction foreman
Luke Searle	....	graffiti artist
James Lee Taylor	....	property master (as James Taylor)
Jonathan Hely-Hutchinson	....	draftsman (uncredited)
Justice Nhlapo	....	leadman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Joel Kapend	....	boom operator (as Joel Kapend' A Kapend)
Shaun Murdoch	....	sound mixer
Jim Petrak	....	adr engineer
Jim Petrak	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alexander Saacks	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeremy Saacks	....	sound re-recording mixer
Julie Vandenberg	....	supervising sound editor (as Juli Vandenberg)

Special Effects by
Davin Dullisear	....	special effects foreman
Cordell McQueen	....	special effects coordinator
Graham Press	....	prosthetics

Visual Effects by
Isaac Lui	....	lead animator
Cyril Schumann	....	lead effects compositor

Stunts
Vadim Dobrin	....	stunts
Kerry Gregg	....	stunts
Cordell McQueen	....	stunt coordinator
Wayne Smith	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Karin Alsbirk	....	still photographer
Patrick Botha	....	spark
Marc Brower	....	camera operator
Simon Cave	....	best boy lights
Mark Cooksey	....	additional focus puller
Carlos De Carvalho	....	additional camera operator (as Carlos Carvalho)
Jimmy Umba Di Umba	....	additional video tape operator
Hannes Erlank	....	spark
Pam Laxen	....	focus puller
George Loxton	....	additional focus puller
Linda Mabasa	....	additional spark
Andrew Maccallum	....	additional spark
Casper Mametsi	....	additional spark
Wellington Mashaba	....	additional spark
Tebogo Matsebe	....	additional spark
Justin McGillivray	....	additional clapper loader
Lucas Moganedi	....	additional spark
Tyron Mountjoy	....	spark
Jason Musgrave	....	clapper loader
Dallas Ncala	....	additional spark (as Dallas Nkala)
Abel Nyamakazi	....	additional spark (as Able Nyamakazi)
Edmund Nyamakazi	....	additional spark
Gareth Penberthy	....	video tape operator
Sarel Pretorius	....	additional steadicam operator
Tony Rhode	....	generator operator
Mark Sherman	....	additional spark
Deon Vermeulen	....	Steadicam operator
Anton Wehmeyer	....	additional focus puller
Oliver Wilter	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Mavis Khanye	....	casting associate
Belinda Kruger	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gillian Castle	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Desmond Allan	....	digital post-production coordinator
George Chavez	....	color timer
Brett Manson	....	digital intermediate colorist
Louise Mycielski	....	post-production coordinator
Pravashanee Reddy	....	first assistant editor
Carina Steyl	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Vusi Mahlasela	....	original socre featuring the voice of
Casey Stone	....	music scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Sydney Dlamini	....	camera truck driver
Tyron Mountjoy	....	driver

Other crew
Mia Bays	....	marketing and distribution
Wiebina Berrington	....	additional continuity
Maureen Conway	....	script supervisor
Janine Eser	....	script editor
Jaco Espach	....	location manager
Henrietta Fudakowski	....	script editor
Monica Keys	....	production coordinator
Hakan Kousetta	....	production legal advisor
Regis Le'Bron	....	marketing & promotion
Brian Letlhabane	....	script translator
Nick Miller	....	production legal advisor
Michelle Morgan	....	accounts assistant
Bruce Purnell	....	unit assistant
Cyril Schumann	....	title designer
Pete Smith	....	chief armorer
Lauren Van Rensburg	....	production secretary
Laura Vogt	....	production accountant
Tom Winchester	....	assistant to producers
Leila Wreyford	....	title designer

Thanks
Matthew W. Davis	....	special thanks
Lynsey Jones	....	thanks

Production Companies

• The UK Film & TV Production Company PLC
• Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa
• The National Film and Video Foundation of SA
• Moviworld (in association with)
• Tsotsi Films

Distributors

• Ster-Kinekor Pictures (2005) (South Africa) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• MK2 Diffusion (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Miramax (2006) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Moonlight Films (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Rialto Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Impuls Home Entertainment (2006) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Miramax (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Momentum Pictures (2006) (UK) (all media)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Nikkatsu (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2008) (Canada) (DVD)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2005) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore (2006) (Italy) (DVD)
• Group Power (2006) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Award Winning Collection)
• Pinema (2006) (Turkey) (all media)
• Rialto Distribution (2006) (Australia) (all media)
• Rialto Distribution (2006) (New Zealand) (all media)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2007) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Vendetta Films (2005) (New Zealand) (DVD)
• Verenigde Arbeiders Radio Amateurs (VARA) (2008) (Netherlands) (TV)

Other Companies

• Chris Fellows Sound Studios  optical sound negative
• Chris Fellows Sound Studios  sound post production
• Film Lab, The  negative processing
• Freeway CAM B.V.  collection account management
• Milan Records  soundtrack
• Video Lab  dailies transfer
• Video Lab  digital intermediate
• Visual Icon  Exclusive clip and still licensing

Also Known As:

"Thug" - International (English title) (literal English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some strong violent content

Runtime:

USA:94 min | Canada:94 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

UK | South Africa

Language:

Zulu | Xhosa | Afrikaans | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15A | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 (TV rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Company:

The UK Film & TV Production Company PLC

Trivia:

In urban slang of Johannesburg "tsotsi" loosely translated means "thug".

Goofs:

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

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Skorokoro

powerful and emotionally steering

there is nothing i can really say to tell you why you should go watch this film right now without spoiling the film, but this film is powerful, detailed, well shot, written and emotionally grabbing. top performances by the talent of tsotsi, with the supporting cast all being equally impressive. This may not be for everyone; its not exactly art house, but there's enough dexterity and layers in the movie to scare away the Hollywood-type people. some films which can be compared to this film are the likes of city of god, even some larry David films like kids, and bully. in short, its a film which covers misplaced childhood and troubled adolescence. watch this as soon as you're able to and enjoy tsotsi.

10/10