What are the themes of Tsotsi?
What does Boston say about Tsotsi?
What does Boston say to Tsotsi after being rescued?
How to summarise the key themes?
Does Tsotsi have decency?
Is Tsotsi an eBook?
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What are the themes in the movie Tsotsi?
Tsotsi is an extraordinary film by director Gavin Hood that manages to map some of the huge contrasts in modern South Africa - its affluence and grinding poverty, its haves and have-nots, its energy and optimism alongside the disease, addiction and crime that blights so many lives.
What is the setting of the film Tsotsi?
Set in a slum in Johannesburg, South Africa, the film tells the story of Tsotsi, a young street thug who steals a car only to discover a baby in the back seat.
What is the plot of the movie Tsotsi?
A South African hoodlum named Tsotsi (Presley Chweneyagae) lives by a code of violence, and he and his gang of thugs prowl the streets of Johannesburg day and night, attacking those who fail to give them what they want. After casually shooting a woman and stealing her car, he discovers her baby in the back seat. Instead of harming the mewling infant, he takes it home and cares for it. The child acts as a catalyst for the hardened thug to regain his humanity.Tsotsi / Film synopsis
What is the title of the Tsotsi film?
Thug life in Soweto. Presley Chweneyagae stars in the title role in the South African film "Tsotsi," winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Film. How strange, a movie where a bad man becomes better, instead of the other way around.
What are the conflicts in the film Tsotsi?
The story is not centred on a conflict between people of different races, but on the consequences of conflict and poverty. Tsotsi is a young man without a past or an education. He viciously beats his friend, who asks him if he understand the word decency. Nor does he know his real name.
What is the conclusion of Tsotsi?
After Tsotsi seriously injures his buddy and the two temporarily part ways, Tsotsi not only apologizes and takes care of Boston but also offers to provide a way for him to finish his education and pursue his dream to be a teacher. Through Boston's example, the movie displays the tragic consequences of alcoholism.
What are tsotsis 3 rules?
He creates three rules: rule of the working moment (always be able to see his knife), never disturb his inward darkness, tolerate questions from no others. These rules are what allow him to survive as Tsotsi and have no need to become David again.
What type of character is Tsotsi?
Tsotsi As the leader of a gang, Tsotsi is brutal, unscrupulous, ruthless, and indifferent. He represents the worst of human nature as he is driven by dark impulses. Tsotsi is a cold, merciless killer who stalks his victims with the intention of killing them.
How did the baby change Tsotsi's life?
The baby catalyzes Tsotsi remembrance of his past, and his shift in character by being the first thing he has to take responsibility for. Tsotsi goes to find milk for the baby, and cleans the baby; this shows he becomes compassionate, responsible, and merciful.
What is the importance of Tsotsi's knife?
Tsotsi has three rules that he follows in his life and the first one is to always make sure he has his knife on him before he does anything. The knife was very important to Tsotsi; it symbolizes his want for a safe place to live where nothing can hurt him, and where he does not need a weapon to feel protected.
What are the social issues in Tsotsi?
In Tsotsi, ethnicity plays a secondary role to the more complex issues of class and social disparities, power vs. powerlessness. Although the shantytown dwellers are all black or part-black, so are the wealthy couple whose baby is kidnapped, and the businessman who gets killed for his valuables while riding the subway.
How is Tsotsi represented?
Tsotsi is often shown away from the group or isolated in some way. Production design of locations is quite broad but very useful; Tsotsi's shack shows poverty, Miriam's shows warmth, the Dube's shows wealth, the train station shows cold alienation and lack of personality.
What type of character is Tsotsi?
Tsotsi As the leader of a gang, Tsotsi is brutal, unscrupulous, ruthless, and indifferent. He represents the worst of human nature as he is driven by dark impulses. Tsotsi is a cold, merciless killer who stalks his victims with the intention of killing them.
Who are the Tsotsi characters?
SoekieThembi NyandeniGumboot DlaminiOwen SejakeTsotsi's FatherIsrael MakoeJohn DubeRapulana SeiphemoPumla DubeNambitha MpumlwanaTsotsi's MotherSindi KhambuleTsotsi/Characters
What mood is created in the first paragraph of Tsotsi?
What mood is created in the first paragraph and what does it lead you to expect? The mood is sombre, creating an expectation that something bad is about to happen. There is something of a contradiction here. Die Aap and Tsotsi are said to listen attentively, yet they do not seem really interested in the stories.
What are the social issues in Tsotsi?
In Tsotsi, ethnicity plays a secondary role to the more complex issues of class and social disparities, power vs. powerlessness. Although the shantytown dwellers are all black or part-black, so are the wealthy couple whose baby is kidnapped, and the businessman who gets killed for his valuables while riding the subway.
Themes and Ideas in the Movie Tsotsi: Redemption and Transformation
Culture is a way that a certain group of people decide to live their lives. It has been developing since the beginning of time and encompasses many things such as: religion; ceremonies; moral standards; heritage and languages, to name a few.
What are the key themes in Tsotsi? | X-Kit Achieve!
A theme is an important idea or concept underlying the action and all the other elements of a literary work. Writers often use important issues from their own society (e.g. love, hate, greed, poverty) as themes in their writing. A text may contain several themes and these may not be explicit or obvious.
Close Analysis of The Tsotsi Movie and Themes Raised - GradesFixer
In the directors note “In Tsotsi’s eyes, we should, in the end, see ourselves.” What this means is that Hood wants up to get up and personal to someone we would not normally have anything to do with.
English Grade 11 Tsotsi Questions - Mondeor High School
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Tsotsi Summary, Notes, Essays, character Analysis and extra
The document consists of a detailed summary of the Novel Tsotsi (12 chapters), Has a character Analysis, literature essays on Tsotsi, Key themes in Tsotsi and extra information related to Tsotsi
Tsotsi (Movie): Summary & Analysis | Jotted Lines
Summary: Tsotsi, a gang member living in a township, makes a living mugging and carjacking more affluent people. One day, while hijacking a car, he finds a baby on the back seat and takes him home. Identifying with the baby, he forces a young mother in the township to take care of him. Slowly remembering
What is the theme of redemption in the narrative?
The theme of redemption is also witnessed in the narrative, however, it is rather contradictory or ironic says Dovey (2007: 150). Dovey (2007:150) points out that during Apartheid, the religion of Christianity was forced onto the native people. One of this religion’s teachings is to find redemption and the narrative focuses on Tsotsi doing just that, for his crimes, however, it conveniently forgets to address that the Apartheid government and the injustices it committed, needed to redeem itself and acknowledge that perhaps it is the cause behind many crimes being committed.
Why did France only produce African films?
Once France had conquered several African countries and film making was introduced, the new rulers ensured that films were only produced by the French so that the majority of the returns would still go to the French and not the African film makers, writes Armes (2006:55). Armes (2006: 57) then goes on to reveal that several French and other European funders were willing to provide funding to African countries for film making as long as the films were restricted to what the funders allowed them to create, namely, namely, films which portrayed Europe in a positive way. Armes (2006:62) explains that no films would be allowed to freely express social issues. They could not expose how the colonisers forced their ways onto another nation and culture as it could create a rebellion or outrage. The films had to also be created with all European languages; completely neglecting the languages of the motherland and the people who created it says Armes (2006:57). This has destroyed a whole culture but through it, a form of cultural hybridity has formed between the French and African cultures, making an entirely new and beautiful one to be enjoyed, but never forgetting how it has formed and is still evolving.
What does "in Tsotsi's eyes we should see ourselves" mean?
In the directors note “In Tsotsi’s eyes, we should, in the end, see ourselves.” What this means is that Hood wants up to get up and personal to someone we would not normally have anything to do with. Also at first Tsosti may not seem very friendly or lovable by being up close and knowing the history of Tsotsi’s past we can somehow relate and understand why Tsotsi acts this was and thus becomes a more friendly and lovable person in our eyes, even though he still makes wrong decisions.
How does Tsotsi Hood develop?
In the exposition of Tsotsi Hood uses many different techniques to help develop the character of Tsotsi. The audience learns that Tsotsi lives in a township in Soweto, marginalized by society. He is uneducated and relies on his gang members to kill and steal from rich people in Johannesburg. This development was shown through the use of techniques of cinematography and dialogue. For example a high angled wide shot was used after a close up of Tsotsi pulling the finger to show the setting of Soweto, a township in South Africa. The shot shows the full extent of Soweto as the township goes on into the distance and big power lines going through the township but not connecting. This wide shot was important as it set the scene for the audience showing the full extent of Soweto and the vast amount of people living like Tsotsi, without electricity and marginalized by society. At the same time we hear loud Kwaito music as well as shouting and loud noises of the people living in Soweto. The loud noises from the people show that the township is very loud and busy with people going on about their day. Through these techniques, the audience is made aware of the situation many people are living in the townships of South Africa. The townships do not have the access to the same resources many people take for granted like a family, electricity, education and as a result a successful job or benefit. The people of these townships have to survive based on their own knowledge of stealing and motivation to survive. Tsotsi has been brought up to be a killer and a thief in order to survive.
What is the significance of the shot of Soweto?
The shot shows the full extent of Soweto as the township goes on into the distance and big power lines going through the township but not connecting. This wide shot was important as it set the scene for the audience showing the full extent of Soweto and the vast amount of people living like Tsotsi, without electricity and marginalized by society.
Reference List
Artaud, A. 2010. The Theatre and its Double. United Kingdom: Oneworld Classics Ltd.
Filmography
Tsotsi. [Film]. 2005. Hood, G (dir) & Fudakowski, P (prod). The UK Film & TV Production Company.
What is the name of the movie Tsotsi?
This article is about the film Tsotsi. For the language, see Tsotsitaal. Tsotsi is a 2005 crime drama film written and directed by Gavin Hood and produced by Peter Fudakowski. It is an adaptation of the novel Tsotsi, by Athol Fugard and is a South African/UK co-production.
When did Tsotsi win the Academy Award?
Tsotsi won the 2005 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006.
What does Tsotsi tell Aap about Boston?
Tsotsi tells him that the gang will raise the money so that Boston can take the exam, which means that they will have to commit another robbery. Tsotsi and Aap go to Pumla's house. When Pumla's husband John (Rapulana Seiphemo) returns from the hospital, they follow him into the house and tie him up.
What does Tsotsi tell John about the baby?
Tsotsi sets off to return the baby. He reaches John's house and tells John over the intercom that he will leave the child outside the gate.
How much did Tsotsi cost?
Budget. $3 million . Box office. $11.5 million. Tsotsi is a 2005 crime drama film written and directed by Gavin Hood and produced by Peter Fudakowski. It is an adaptation of the novel Tsotsi, by Athol Fugard and is a South African/UK co-production.
Where was Tsotsi shot?
In one, Tsotsi is shot in the shoulder, and while the officers are shocked at what happened, he escapes through a large field back to the Alexandra slums after avoiding another shot from the chief police officer. In the other, Tsotsi is shot in the chest while reaching for a milk bottle he brought.
Who plays Miriam in the movie?
Terry Pheto as Miriam: A widow with a young son who lives near Tsotsi in the slum. Nambitha Mpumlwana as Pumla Dube: The mother of the kidnapped child. Rapulana Seiphemo as John Dube: The father of the kidnapped child. Ian Roberts as Captain Smit: An Afrikaner police captain.
What is Tsotsi's job?
Tsotsi, a gang member living in a township, makes a living mugging and carjacking more affluent people. One day, while hijacking a car, he finds a baby on the back seat and takes him home. Identifying with the baby, he forces a young mother in the township to take care of him. Slowly remembering his own childhood, and his mother who had died from AIDS, he ends up returning the baby to his affluent parents.
What is the setting of Tsotsi?
Not published until 1980, four years after the Soweto uprising, during which police shot numerous students protesting the introduction of Afrikaans as the language of instruction, the novel is set in Sophiatown in the 1950s, shortly before this black cultural hub where non-whites could own property was razed to make room for the white suburb Triomf. The film updates the setting: Tsotsi’s mother does not die because of apartheid, but of AIDS, and the baby is not ‘historyless’ (Rijsdijk and Haupt 2007: 38) but has affluent black South African parents, which introduces an entirely new storyline.
Where was Tsotsi filmed?
A major success in both South Africa and around the world, winner of the 2005 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, Tsotsi took some risks: it featured no stars, but for the most part young unknown actors, was shot on location in Soweto, and its dialogue is mostly in tsotistaal, a hybrid of languages, such as Afrikaans, Sotho, Zwana and Zulu, spoken in the townships around Johannesburg. At the same time the film sparked much debate and controversy as far as its politics are concerned.
Where did the word "tsotsi" come from?
The word tsotsi, possibly derived from the English zoot suit, first emerged in 1930s Sophiatown, and represents an appropriation and transposition of the American gangster into a South African context.
Who filmed the story of redemption?
Gavin Hood himself has said that he filmed a classic story of redemption that he thinks has universal appeal (see Archibald and Hood 2006). His camera movements, he suggests, are minimal, driven by characters (Gunn 2009: 49). In classical Hollywood stories, (usually male, white) protagonists drive the plot.
What does Tsotsi mean?
We don't even learn his real name until later in the film; "tsotsi" means "thug," and that's what he is. Advertisement. He leads a loose-knit gang that smashes and grabs, loots and shoots, sets out each morning to steal something.
Where is the movie Tsotsi set?
The movie, which just won the Oscar for best foreign film, is set in Soweto, the township outside Johannesburg where neat little houses built by the new government are overwhelmed by square miles of shacks. There is poverty and despair here, but also hope and opportunity; from Soweto have come generations of politicians, entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, as if it were the Lower East Side of South Africa. Tsotsi ( Presley Chweneyagae) is not destined to be one of those. We don't even learn his real name until later in the film; "tsotsi" means "thug," and that's what he is.
What movie did Presley Chweneyagae play in?
Presley Chweneyagae stars in the title role in the South African film "Tsotsi," winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Film. How strange, a movie where a bad man becomes better, instead of the other way around. "Tsotsi," a film of deep emotional power, considers a young killer whose cold eyes show no emotion, who kills unthinkingly, ...
How strange is Tsotsi?
How strange, a movie where a bad man becomes better, instead of the other way around. "Tsotsi," a film of deep emotional power , considers a young killer whose cold eyes show no emotion, who kills unthinkingly, and who is transformed by the helplessness of a baby. He didn't mean to kidnap the baby, but now that he has it, ...
Who is Tsotsi in Soweto?
Tsotsi ( Presley Chweneyagae) is not destined to be one of those.
Can Tsotsi kill a baby?
Tsotsi is a killer, but he cannot kill a baby. He takes it home with him, to a room built on top of somebody else's shack. It might be wise for him to leave the baby at a church or an orphanage, but that doesn't occur to him. He has the baby, so the baby is his.
Who plays the mother in Tsotsi?
Finally, in desperation, at gunpoint, he forces a nursing mother ( Terry Pheto) to feed the child. She lives in a nearby shack, a clean and cheerful one.
What are the themes of Tsotsi?
A number of the themes in Tsotsi involve a tug-of-war between opposites where we are called upon to consider and weigh up both viewpoint s and make up our own minds.
What does Boston say about Tsotsi?
His career as a criminal is “finished” and he has rejected his gang. He has discovered that he has options and that he can choose not to kill. After being rescued from the shebeen, Boston acknowledges that Tsotsi has changed: “You are different …. You are changing …. You are asking me about God”. Pain.
What does Boston say to Tsotsi after being rescued?
After being rescued from the shebeen, Boston acknowledges that Tsotsi has changed: “You are different …. You are changing …. You are asking me about God”. Pain. Most of the characters in the novel experience both physical and psychological pain.
How to summarise the key themes?
A good way to summarise the key themes is to draw a mind map. Here are some of the key themes in Tsotsi. Try to complete the mind map by thinking of events, scenarios and characters from the novel to support the themes. When answering a question in your literature paper, it is a good idea to reference a short extract from the text ...
Does Tsotsi have decency?
It seems that some of the gang members, notably the cold-blooded Butcher who mocks Boston’s attack of nausea, can never achieve decency as they have no capacity for feeling sympathy for others or any inkling of what decency involves. However, for Tsotsi there is some hope of finding decency. The arrival of the baby in his life and ...
Is Tsotsi an eBook?
Tsotsi is also avialable in eBook format.
