Plot
Six days in the violent life of a young Johannesburg gang leader (Chweneyagae).
Release Year: 2005
Rating: 7.3/10 (16,189 voted)
Critic's Score: 70/100
Director:
Gavin Hood
Stars: Presley Chweneyagae, Mothusi Magano, Israel Makoe
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.
Writers: Gavin Hood, Athol Fugard
Cast: Presley Chweneyagae
-
David 'Tsotsi'
Terry Pheto
-
Miriam
Kenneth Nkosi
-
Aap
Mothusi Magano
-
Boston
Zenzo Ngqobe
-
Butcher
Zola
-
Fela
Rapulana Seiphemo
-
John Dube
Nambitha Mpumlwana
-
Pumla Dube
Jerry Mofokeng
-
Morris
Ian Roberts
-
Captain Smit
Percy Matsemela
-
Sergeant Zuma
Thembi Nyandeni
-
Soekie
Owen Sejake
-
Gumboot Dlamini
Israel Makoe
-
David's father
Sindi Khambule
-
David's mother
Taglines:
In this world... redemption just comes once.
Filming Locations: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Box Office Details
Budget: $3,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $76,324
(USA)
(26 February 2006)
(6 Screens)
Gross: $2,912,363
(USA)
(9 July 2006)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
USA:
|
Canada:
(Toronto International Film Festival)
Did You Know?
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?
User Review
Powerful Cinema
Rating: 8/10
There is a tendency for South African cinema (such as it is) to want to
see itself through the eyes of the world. Hence the many comments such
as "this film could be set in LA" (ie: it's almost as good as an
American movie) As a result, most cinema from South Africa is often
very limited in its artistic ambitions and storytelling usually takes
second place to making sure South Africa "looks good" on the screen so
that "people overseas" will see "our beautiful country" The Australians
used to call this the cultural cringe and it also took them some time
to find their voice.
Tstosti is a wonderfully told piece of cinema set in the distinctive
word of black Johannesburg criminals (I say black, because there is a
very different world for white criminals)It works because underneath
all the bells and whistles of great camera angles, phenomenal acting
and- yes- its unique setting lies something much, much more important:
A strong, strong story. A story about things that every human on earth
can identify with (love and death). This is not a film for "people
overseas"- it's a film in which South Africans to see and hear
themselves as real people and not as feeble caricatures gleaned from
countless Hollywood movies.
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