Directed by:
Gavin Hood
Starring:
Presley Chweneyagae …. Tsotsi
Terry Pheto …. Miriam
Kenneth Nkosi …. Aap
Mothusi Magano …. Boston
Zenzo Ngqobe …. Butcher
Zola …. Fela
Rapulana Seiphemo …. John Dube
Nambitha Mpumlwana …. Pumla Dube
Jerry Mofokeng …. Morris
Ian Roberts …. Captain Smit
Percy Matsemela …. Sergeant Zuma
Miramax presents a film directed and written by Gavin Hood. Based on the novel by Athol Fugard. Running time: 94 minutes. Rated R (for language and some strong violent content. Released on DVD: July 18, 2006
When Tsotsi won the Academy Award last year for Best Foreign Film many (including even those who don’t actually care much about the category) wondered how it was able to beat out Paradise Now, the odds on favorite for the award. The feature was only put out in limited release theatrically earlier this year, where only big film towns like LA, Boston, New York, and Chicago had any shot at seeing it on the big screen. Which could be the reason why many didn’t give it a fighting chance, seeing as Paradise Now was much more accessible to film goers at the time. Everyone else curious about the film had to wait until the DVD release to see what all the fuss was about.
Tsotsi is a boy who got a bad roll of the dice in life, he grew up around violence and anger, lived on the street since he was only a child no older than seven, and has become cold blooded with no moral compass. He’s a dangerous person, from the moments we first see him he has a very ominous presence. He has a boyish veneer yet shows no emotions in his facial expressions, he could shoot a smile just as quickly as he could a bullet. The place he calls a home is nothing more than a shantytown just outside of Johannesburg. Poverty has turned him in to nothing more than a thug, which is the name he’s chosen to give himself. The only people he’s ever opened himself up to even slightly are Boston, Butcher, and Aap the three other young vandals who make up his gang.
The only way Tsotsi knows how to do anything in life is at gun point, that’s the environment he’s grown up in and is the only one he knows. He holds up unsuspecting patrons at the train station and will do what ever it takes to survive and see next day. Even stealing a car from an unsuspecting woman, shooting her without reservation in order to get away, in hopes of selling the hot set of wheels to a chop shop. Only he never imagined that when he sat in the drivers seat that there would be a small defenseless child less than a year old in the back seat. When he takes the baby back to his home he tries to nurture and take care of it, Tsotsi thinks he can give this kid the life he never had, to try and prove he’s worth something in this world.
Some people who watch this will wonder why Tsotsi even bothers to take the baby with him, why he doesn’t just leave it in the car after it breaks down. There’s something about the baby that once their eyes lock the child somehow connects something in the back of Tsotsi’s mind that begins to tell him that there is room for change, that he can for once do something right. Even after doing something so horribly wrong. And it’s at that moment that the movie starts, where we see Tsotsi’s journey to redemption, his chance to find that humanity inside of himself that he lost all those years ago. Showing him a sense of light to replace all the darkness that’s consumed his life, allowing him to finally tear down this rough and monstrous exterior. To realize that it doesn’t always have to be like this, that people can change and how life isn’t predetermined.
Some melodramatic tones do arise from time to time, trying to force viewers emotions, but for the most part Tsotsi is a very strong film. But it’s much more effective as the metaphorical story that is hidden underneath, sadly Gavin Hood instils a few cliches in the film that undermine a lot of the brilliant new things he brings to this adaptation. His complete update to the tale first told in the 1970’s in to a modern day look at how South African living has evolved, and how in many ways has gone down just as much as it’s risen, is something that should be commended. With many poor people finally advancing to middle class, we’ve seen far more fall in to poverty, and AIDS becoming more of an epidemic than ever over there. This new tale speaks far greater to audience than had he chosen to film the novel as it was written over thirty years ago.
Casting in the film, which is comprised primarily of first time actors, is outstanding. Presley Chweneyagae, the young actor who plays Tsotsi, manages to convey vast amounts of emotion with few lines of dialogue, which would prove difficult to even the most veteran of actors. He takes a character that could easily be looked at as nothing but a criminal who deserves what ever brand justice he has coming to him and turns Tsotsi in to a misguided soul that we want to see break free from the life he has now.
The main theme in Tsotsi is that life is just like a roll of the dice. While many people walk around wondering how their life would be different if they grew up in a socialite family, with connections to set them up in cushy job for life, they never look at the flip side of the coin. The life that very easily could’ve been that of Tsotsi himself. While life is a series of random occurrences that can’t be predicted or foreseen, we’re still responsible for the dice we roll and the outcome from them. But we’re also still capable of trying to make up for a bad one, even if we have no clue as to how long it will take to correct it.
A roll of the dice it may be, you still have control over your life whenever you decide to take the wheel and steer towards something you want, to become a person you wished you could be. As I said above, Tsotsi wasn’t the film many expected to win at the Oscars last year, but now with it made available for those who missed it, it’s quite clear to see how the film was a worthy victor of the award.
Video:
(Presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen)
The photography in Tsotsi is utterly stunning. Even the shantytown that Tsotsi lives in is filmed so wonderfully that some might say it does a bit of a disservice to the mood the film is trying to present. The video transfer here is nearly perfect and very little at all to complain about. The black levels are deep but not once impair the detail in shadowed areas, artifacts are nowhere to be seen, and grain is almost unnoticeable. Overall the cinematography of Lance Gewer is presented as best it could with this DVD release.
Audio:
(Taal Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround)
Taal is a language that has evolved from three other South African forms of speech, Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans. The soundtrack primarily is all from the same South African artist by the name of Zola (whom also has a role in the film), and when his music kicks in all five speakers along with the subwoofer are given plenty to do. Included on the DVD are subtitles in both English and Spanish, each are clearly visible and easy to read.
Extras:
Feature Length Commentary – Gavin Hood is a man 100% devoted to both this film and South Africa. He’s well versed and makes sure to use the time allotted to him to its full advantage, covering everything one could hope to hear on the film. From the book it’s based on, the actors and how well the performed in their roles, the different shooting location, and getting the film to a point where it was backed by a major studio. At times it becomes a bit scene specific, but Hood does so on ones that deserve it and talks about the underlying story, or why they’re so pivotal to Tsotsi himself or the films message in general.
Alternate Endings (3:35) – Two alternate endings are included with optional commentary by the director. Not to ruin the ending for those who haven’t seen the film, I’ll just say that they aren’t as interesting as one might think and that the one chosen by Hood was by far the best choice to go with.
Deleted Scenes (7:58) – Here you’ll find three scenes, again with Hood offering commentary for them. Now, I’m sure many of you would agree with me that the commentary is always the most interesting part of deleted scenes. The scenes are usually cut for obvious reasons, but it’s hearing the director, the person who builds a connection to just about every scene in the script, talk about what they signified to the overall story that’s fun to hear. What Hood has to say is certainly the best part of the section as the scenes themselves aren’t very good.
The Making of Tsotsi (13:44) – Most of the cast and crew talk about the films production and the changes they wanted to make when adapting the novel. Not too promotional, they give enough insight in to the characters, actors, and production of the film that what they’re telling us feels honest. This is the type of “making of” all other DVDs should aspire to be like.
Director Gavin Hood’s Short Film The Storekeeper (22:00) is also included and, once again, has Hood on commentary. The film was made eight years ago, filmed on 35mm and is the first short that Hood ever directed. Both watching the short on its own and listening to the commentary are equally gripping. Hood uses the time to really go in to how the short came to be and all the tricks he used to make the production as efficient (and cheaply) as possible.
Rounding out the disc are a Music Video (Mdlwembe by Zola) and a promotion trailer about the films excellent Soundtrack.
The Inside Pulse
Tsotsi is certainly a title worth seeing, and won’t let you down like so many other films with as much hype as this one had. While it isn’t necessarily the best film to come out from South Africa recently (that title goes to City of God), it’s by far one of 2005’s best offerings. The video and audio are nearly perfect and the special features are more than ample, if you had any interest in this film at all I highly recommend you check it out.
