Tsotsi

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Wayne K You don’t often hear about films from South Africa. I suppose the most famous one would be District 9, but Tsotsi is the first and so far only film from the country to win the Oscar for Best International film back in 2006. It’s a gritty, slum-based crime drama, much like City Of God, possibly my favourite example of the genre. It centres around a believable and earnest redemption arc, following a willing member of the criminal underworld as he finds a reason to try and do better in his life. There’s a lack of preachiness and speechifying that’s so common in films like this, where characters spout hollow, predictable platitudes that belong more on a Hallmark card than in a feature film. Presley Chweneyagae turns in a performance that’s both restrained and emotionally affecting, not going over the top or ever really using more emotion than he needs to. He’s well served by a talented, if underutilised, supporting cast. The character of Miriam especially could have been a fantastic component of the overall storyline, but she never gets enough to do, and it feels like squandered potential. Minor issues aside, Tsotsi is a film that more people should see and discuss. I never hear it brought up in any movie related conversations, and that’s something that definitely needs to change. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/11/24 Full Review Gareth v A movie that expolres the criminal and violent side of South Africa. The tale of redemption is a bit of a stretch though. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/20/23 Full Review jacob t Amazing character study and well made film. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review William L The cops in this movie at great. At one point they ride around in this incredibly unintimidating sedan-truck, constantly are leveling Glocks at the heads of suspects like they're in some '80s action movie, and later on one picks up a criminal's gun during a home infiltration and turns it on the guy like the cop forgot to bring his own. Tsotsi is an important film in the development of African cinema on the world stage, sweeping awards in the United States and beyond where predecessors did not, but can either be heart-melting or childish based on interpretation. Presley Chweneyagae's Tsotsi ('gangster') is a thug without morals or scruples, a man who has abandoned his former identity after facing cruelty at home. However, when he accidentally kidnaps a baby (who only cries when the story demands it, and never outside of those demands) as part of a carjacking, that stony-faced persona begins to crack and melt away, as he sees some bit of his former self in the innocence of a child. Some people called it a refreshing turn from other modern dramas that focused too heavily on darker storylines, but the transformation seems totally unjustified. We go from 'stabbing a guy with an icepick in a train' to 'here's some milk, boy-o' in about half an hour, with little explanation apart from some belief that inside of every criminal there's a mistreated former child. It has some solid performances, many of the details feel solid, and the international recognition was significant, but the premise alone sort of betrays the film. African cinema has a lot to offer, including many unique and highly original details rooted in a wide range of cultures, that making this the poster child for a continent seems like a rather timid decision. (2.5/5) Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/01/22 Full Review dave s Set in Johannesburg, David is a young man who, after his mother's death from AIDS, resorts to a life of crime, seemingly devoid of any emotion other than anger. After carjacking a vehicle, he realizes that he has kidnapped the victim's baby, forcing him to reevaluate his life. Once you get past the unlikely scenario of David keeping the baby instead of leaving it in the car, Tsotsi is a fascinating examination of the evolution of a heartless criminal. It is a film about compassion and redemption, beautifully shot in the slums of the city and featuring excellent performances from the cast, including that of Presley Chweneyagae in the lead role. As an added bonus, the soundtrack and score are remarkable. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Very powerful movie. It did strike a cord with me seeing how life circumstances dishes crap for a chance for life in ones on environment. From the early childhood what kind of a start one gets. Family environment does influence a young life. Its raw its gets to the core. I loved it. Great acting, producing the lot. Makes me wonder how one can do a redemption and change one destiny. Would love to see a continuum of the movie. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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