Tsotsi

     Tsotsi, a 2005 film that is written and directed by Gavin Hood, takes its viewers on a journey into the life of a young gang leader, Tsotsi, as a series of events causes the troubled protagonist to reflect upon his past, as well as re-evaluate his present views of life and of himself. At the beginning of the film, Tsotsi is depicted as a volatile and troubled teenager living in the slums of present day South Africa, as he leads his gang of fellow troubled teens into nightly violent acts of robbery and muggings. Following a violent assault, in which Tsotsi inflicts upon a member of his gang as a result of an argument over a mugging turned murder, Tsotsi goes rogue and shoots a woman while stealing her car in the wealthy community of South Africa, leading to the discovery of the victim's baby in the backseat. The decision to take the baby with him, instead of leaving the infant alone in the crashed car, reveals an existence of compassion buried within Tsotsi. The struggles, which accompanies the caring of a human infant, cause Tsotsi to reminisce about his childhood; which in turn stir up painful childhood memories of his mother's death; as well as his running away from home to live with orphans in the harsh wilderness, instead of with his abusive father. As a way to symbolize his acceptance of putting his past to rest, Tsotsi, chooses to call the infant by his own real name, David; further showing the progress of Tsotsi's transformation into a full human-being as he discovers his buried emotions. As to fully complete Tsotsi's transformation, he returns the stolen baby to the mother he stole it from; hence, completing the cycle of transformation as Tsotsi ends his journey at the point of where it began, and yet as a completely different individual.

     The themes, which are demonstrated in the film Tsotsi, are those of redemption and finding peace. The journey, in which Tsotsi experiences throughout the film, causes the protagonist seek redemption and forgiveness within and from himself, in addition to those he has previously wronged. The discovering and caring for the infant he stole form its mother, causes Tsotsi to reflect upon himself, as well as transform his cold and remorseless disposition. He not only returns the infant back to its mother, apologizes and offers shelter to the fellow gang member he assaults, but Tsotsi as well gives money to the homeless man in wheelchair he earlier assaulted. Tsotsi's experience of putting a child in harm, only to care and relate to the infant, triggers the yearning for redemption and peace that Tsotsi demonstrates throughout the film, Tsotsi.

     I thoroughly enjoyed the film Tsotsi. In addition to the plot and characters, I liked how scenes and interactions of emphasis were depicted and shot with limited, and in some cases, no dialogue at all; the importance of symbols and scenes was emphasized, or demonstrated, through actions,expressions, as well as reactions. The director, Gavin Hood. did an exceptional job of taking his viewers on a first-person journey of redemption and transformation as depicted through his protagonist, Tsotsi.