Tsotsi

[StevePulaski]

Tsotsi and his gang.

Rating: ★★★½

Hard to believe a harmless infant can tame a monster like Tsotsi. Once he lays eyes on this kid Tsotsi instantly becomes a new person. He learns that even the most vulnerable should not be victims to a selfish act. Maybe that is what Tsotsi's true moral is? Regardless. Tsotsi (pronounced soet-see) is an engaging film directed by South African filmmaker Gavin Hood. The film won Best Foreign Film at the 2005 Academy Awards and it's deserving of that award. No other Foreign film touched me like Tsotsi.

Maybe it's the fact that the miraculous change in the lead character's life is the reason I enjoyed this film so much. The plot involves a hoodlum named David, nicknamed "Tsotsi" (Chweneyagae) who has ran away from home to live in construction barrels and lead his own gang of four in Soweto, Africa. One night, Tsotsi finds a women returning home and gets out of the car to enter the pass-code for her gate. Tsotsi shoots her in her leg, and car jacks the women.

Tsotsi, already far enough up the road, now realizes a three month old infant is in the back seat of the car. Tsotsi contemplates for a moment, then takes the baby back to his shack. The rest of the film is him trying to work with others to help nurse the kid because he fears of returning to baby to his parents. Meanwhile the wounded mother, now in a wheelchair, is restless as she thinks constantly about her baby and his well being. Something no mother should be put through.

While Tsotsi doesn't become a clean cut, well behaved man, he is not heartless and evil like he once was. Just from this baby coming into his life we see that evil can change into a calmer more sophisticated person. Tsotsi realizes that he is young, and he sees in the baby that just because his life isn't great he shouldn't ruin a helpless infant's life.

Tsotsi proves you can change, but not completely. It's not like a movie that shows you can go from a cold blooded killer to a roaring feminine overnight. It shows you can change just the right amount to be accepted. Chwenevagae and Pheto both give realistic performances in this film. They're in no way glamorized to fit modern day standards.

Foreign films have been constantly neglected from me for two reasons; simply no interest and I've had somewhat of a hatred for subtitles. As time as gone on, I've become accustom to subtitles and really am starting to appreciate film outside of the homeland.

But I'm also a bit embarrassed for what American film has. We look at films like Tsotsi which are close to masterpieces made outside of the country and what do we have to show for it? Despicable Me? Drag Me to Hell? Grown Ups? I think we should learn to cope with what we have. Grown Ups had a budget of $80 million and was a very poorly made comedy. Tsotsi was made for $3 million, and showcases a lot more heart and passion than Grown Ups. I realize Grown Ups is a comedy film. But why must we show other countries what we waste $80 million on? Was it really so urgent we just couldn't hold that one back from not getting made?

If our society continues to make mainstream filth like remakes and lame comedies, I can see independent films and foreign films becoming our film future. If this is the future, and films like Tsotsi can see the light of day and more gems like South African, Norwegian, and European films can see the light of day in America I would be pleased. But I bet with every great film even Foreign countries get a Grown Ups every now and then.

Starring: Presley Chweneyagae, Mothusi Magano, and Terry Pheto. Directed by: Gavin Hood.