‘Tsotsi’ Directed by: Gavin Hood (2005) South Africa

‘Tsotsi’ ‘Tsotsi’ is set in a Soweto slum township, near Johannesburg in South Africa. The film tells the story of Tsotsi, a hardened, small time local gangster who has to deal with the consequences of committing a violent crime. The film won the academy award in 2005 for best foreign language film.

How much do we know about South Africa? THE APARTHEID SYSTEM For many years South Africa was split by the ‘apartheid system’. A system of division and oppression whereby the country was governed by the ruling white minority. The black majority were moved to impoverished townships out of the main cities. They were unable to vote and treated liked second class citizens. Because of this racist, unfair system South Africa was ostracised by most of the rest of the world, which refused to trade with the country despite its wealth of agricultural resources (gold, diamonds, fruit). The system was abolished shortly after Nelson Mandela was released from prison in The black majority voted in Mandela as president in 1991.

Images from apartheid South Africa

Post- Apartheid South Africa Modern South Africa is known as the ‘rainbow nation’. A rebranding of the country after the apartheid system was abolished. The country has found it difficult to adjust to its new levels of equality. It has been plagued by violence and gang warfare with many black South African angered that they are still 20 years later, living in poor townships whilst white South Africans live in luxury. However as the film suggests there has been a new ‘black middle class’ develop in the country. The new South African government introduced a quota system 15 years ago that forced all companies to employ a percentage of black people. However black South Africans faces a new and more deadly problem…the AIDs virus. Thousands of township dwelling South Africans have died from the epidemic in the last 20 years.

‘Tsotsi’- feedback How would most South Africans feel about this film as a representation of their country? Many would view it as a harsh but realistic portrayal of township life. It does deal in certain stereotypes but is there also a subversion of certain black South African stereotypes?

Tsotsi- the opening What does the exposition of the film tell us: About the townships in South Africa? About the young people who live in the townships? About the main characters, Tsotsi in particular?

The film is based on a book and is told in a non- linear structure. As the film’s title would suggest its is very much one man’s story… the story of redemption. Todorov’s theory can very obviously be applied to the film? How? Levi –Strauss’s theory of binary opposites can also be applied. How? What is the narrative dénouement. Does it fit in with the film’s message? Narrative

Representation of Youth Make notes on: How youth are represented? Lawless and feral. They are on the fringes of ‘real society’ with no education or futures. They see crime as an easy way to material success. Seemed to steal and drug deal as a way of life. Tsotsi begins the film as an amoral character without any compassion or respect for life. Obviously the baby changes everything and forces him to change his whole attitude to life. The tagline of the film is “ in this world, redemption comes just once”. What does that mean in the context of the film? Key scene: Tsotsi and the ‘old cripple’.

Representation and culture How is black South African culture and ethnicity represented? The townships are obviously examples of cramped, government housing for the poor working classes. There are subtle references to the AIDS epidemic. The dominant racial group in the township are obviously black. Some of the cops seem to be white although the police force is more multi-racial then it was. It also suggests that some black South African have broken out of the township cycle of poverty by making the victims of Tsotsi’s crime black. The strong female character perpetuates certain ‘mother earth’ stereotypes of black mothers. Also suggest that black men are irresponsible and immature. Key scene: the robbery

Ideological messages/themes What is the film’s overriding message? Are there overt and covert messages? What is the film saying about ethnicity and modern South Africa as a nation? What is the film saying about the young generation of black South Africans and the future of South Africa?

Comparisons with ‘La Haine’?