When a young gangster commits a crime he never expected, he experiences emotions he never had before.
Mise-en-scene and editing enhance the narrative, moving the story forward and emphasising the pain but also hope. Tsotsi, which, from what I read, means “thug” in Johannesburg slang, was the rightful Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year in 2006!
When I first watched it back then, I may have had no idea about who Gavin Hood was, or may not have known about films what I know now, or even could not understand what I understand now about South Africa’s torment… but still, I was filled with tears in the end while watching it mouth agape. Tsotsi is the torn (anti)hero’s journey that will make you hate him, feel for him, and then be left with so many mixed feelings, rethinking of Boston’s “decency” – and “redemption” (my addition). Megan Hill’s editing plays a tremendous role in narratives such as this, as it paces the audience’s emotions and defines the film’s rhythm. It is a masterclass! There are so many more technical details that I could urge you to pay attention to, but no need. Let the film speak to you.
I was fresh out of the special forces back then, and, to a certain extent, Tsotsi helped me reevaluate certain aspects of life. That is the power of cinema, and, like every other form of art, it is part of our lives, affecting it in ways we could never predict or plan. As much as I liked Hood’s Official Secrets (2019), Tsotsi remains my all-time favourite of his. Last but not least, Presley Chweneyagae’s realistic incarnation of Tsotsi will make you forget he is acting. Enjoy the thrill!
Please, don’t forget to share and subscribe. If you enjoy my work and dedication to films, please feel free to support me on https://www.patreon.com/kaygazpro. Any contribution is much appreciated and valued.
Solidarity for all the innocent lives who suffer the atrocities of war!
Stay safe!
