Tsotsi

We went to see 'Tsotsi' on Friday, and heard this morning that it won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language film last night.

Yay! Well done.
It's about time a South African film won, and as the director Gavin Hood said, 'Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika'

I was dissappointed that 'Yesterday' didn't win last year, because that was also very deserving of an award.

The Tsotsi wikipedia entry summarises the film as 'Falling into the genre of drama, the film centers on the life of a young Johannesburg township gang leader named Tsotsi - a colloquial term roughly meaning "thug" in South African township slang in which the movie is filmed. An AIDS orphan, he grows up on the streets amid poverty, violence and crime.

Tsotsi is set on the road to redemption when he hijacks a car one night, only to later find a baby on the backseat. He makes the decision to care for the baby himself, and slowly his gangster exterior fades as he learns about empathy and compassion.'

The film's official site summarises it as 'Set amidst the sprawling Johannesburg township of Soweto - where survival is the primary objective - TSOTSI traces six days in the life of a ruthless young gang leader who ends up caring for a baby accidentally kidnapped during a car-jacking.

TSOTSI is a gritty and moving portrait of an angry young man living in a state of extreme urban deprivation. His world pumps with the raw energy of "Kwaito music" - the modern beat of the ghetto that reflects his troubled state of mind.

The film is a psychological thriller in which the protagonist is compelled to confront his own brutal nature and face the consequences of his actions. It puts a human face on both the victims and the perpetrators of violent crime and is ultimately a story of hope and a triumph of love over rage.'

The film itself is pretty hectic to watch, and there are scenes with the baby, and one with a dog which make you wince. This film is unsettling and rattles your comfort - not a film to relax to at all.

It is however very moving and very well done. The leading role of township thug Tsotsi is brilliantly played by Presley Chweneyagae, who captures the contrast of tough uncaring thug and hurt and loney child excellently. I also thought that Miriam, played by Terry Pheto was beautiful and really soulful.

My one concern was it's portrayal of South Africa, and that forgeiners would get the impression that that is all of SA. It's not. It's a facet, but it is reality for many many people here, and so I do think that should be shown.

I also liked that way that the film avoided unneccesary racial tention, by making all the characters black. Clever.

I recommend you see it.