Six days in the violent life of a young Johannesburg gang leader.
Director:
Gavin Hood
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Title: Tsotsi (2005)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Presley Chweneyagae | ... | Tsotsi | |
| Terry Pheto | ... | Miriam | |
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Kenneth Nkosi | ... | Aap |
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Mothusi Magano | ... | Boston |
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Zenzo Ngqobe | ... | Butcher |
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Zola | ... | Fela |
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Rapulana Seiphemo | ... | John Dube |
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Nambitha Mpumlwana | ... | Pumla Dube |
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Nonthuthu Sibisi | ... | The Baby |
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Ntuthuko Sibisi | ... | The Baby |
| Jerry Mofokeng | ... | Morris | |
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Ian Roberts | ... | Captain Smit |
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Percy Matsemela | ... | Sergeant Zuma |
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Thembi Nyandeni | ... | Soekie |
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Owen Sejake | ... | Gumboot Dlamini |
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
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. Written by based on the review by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Taglines:
Hope Set Him Free See more »Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for language and some strong violent content | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Written by Kabelo Ikaneng (as Kabelo 'Kaybee' Ikaneng)
Performed by Zola aka
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Did You Know?
Trivia
This is the first Miramax release since founders Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein left the company. See more »Goofs
When Tsotsi enters the room of the kidnapped child, you can see (on the right hand side) that the wall paper is false. See more »Quotes
Morris: [after hearing a defining moment in Tsotsi/David's childhood] What kind of bastard would break a dog's back?See more »
Alternate Versions
A open matte version in 1.85 ratio was edited on the french DVD in 2006. See more »Soundtracks
MdlwembeWritten by Kabelo Ikaneng (as Kabelo 'Kaybee' Ikaneng)
Performed by Zola aka
See more »
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Details
Release Date:
31 March 2006 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Tsotsi See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$3,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$76,324, 26 February 2006Gross USA:
$2,912,606Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$9,891,303Company Credits
Production Co:
The UK Film & TV Production Company PLC, Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa, The National Film and Video Foundation of SA See more »
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IMDbPro »
I really enjoyed this movie. The setting is harsh, the opening is violent and the violence returns at times through the film. But the message is of the redemptive power of love for children and the way that reproduction, even by proxy, is a civilising force. What's really remarkable, though of a piece with Fugard's hard-nosed stage work, is that this is all done without sentimentality and without a conventional happy ending.
The acting is outstanding in particular from Presley Chweneyagae and Nambitha Mpumlwana. The music is a revelation -- I've just bought the soundtrack from iTunes and am listening to it as I write this.
The political message that I derived from the film (though it doesn't preach) concerns the extraordinary patience of the inhabitants of Soweto. It's 16 years or so since change started happening in South Africa, but so few problems seem to have been solved. One doesn't have to apportion blame for this to wonder how long it can go on without serious problems arising.