Tsotsi - Directed by Gavin Hood, 2005

A heartfelt film about a poverty stricken boy named David, who runs far from home, to escape an abusive father, and several homeless children in whom he grew to know and reside with at a construction site. David later changed is name to Tsotsi and grew to be the lead member in an African gang. He and fellow group members, Butcher, Aap and Boston, get into a fix, after a mugging goes wrong, and Butcher kills someone. Tsotsi, soon after, steals a car and shoots the driver, a woman name Pulma. After which, Tsotsi realizes there is a baby in the backseat. He quickly takes the child back to a small room where he lives. Pulma, the mother of the child survives the gun shot and works wih the police to identify Tsotsi. Meanwhile Tsotsi, realizes he cannot take care of a child on his own but notices Miriam, a mother carrying her baby on her back. Tsotsi follows the woman home and holds her up at gunpoint, forcing her to feed the baby. She agrees and wishes to keep the baby in her care. Tsotsi makes it clear to Miriam that the baby is his, and to never forget that. With that said, he leaves the baby in Miriam’s care. Tsotsi returns home, where he looks after Boston, who is still injured from the events of aforementioned mugging fiasco. He learns that Boston wants to get his teaching license but doesn’t have the money to. Tsotsi, decides that to get the money, he, Aap and Butcher will have to commit another robbery. Tsotsi decides to rob Pulma’s house. Tsotsi goes upstairs to the baby’s room, taking food supplies and diapers and other provisions to take back with him, while Butcher takes what he can. When Pulma’s husband, John, comes home, he activates the alarm. Butcher get frightened and attempts to kill John with his gun, but Tsotsi beats him to the punch, killing Butcher instead. He and Aap quickly escape. For fear that Tsotsi might someday kill him, Aap decides to leave the gang and writes off Tsotsi as a friend. When Tsotsi goes back to Miriam, she informs Tsotsi of whom the baby belongs to (as if he didn’t know), and deeply insists he return the child. Tsotsi returns the baby to John and Pulmas’s how and says he’ll leave the baby outside the gate via intercom. A nearby cop, watching the house demands Tsotsi to put the baby down. Pulma and John rush down to the scene and behind the gate, plead for their baby back. Tsotsi carries child into the arms of Pulma. After which he is ordered to put his hands up. The movie ends with Tsotsi surrendering to the officers.


Major theme
This film depicts the life of Tsotsi, as a gang leader, criminal, murderer, but also as a child to grow on his own, making life decisions from his own knowledge. The theme of this movie is the result of what happens when we as people choose. With choice comes justice, corruption, hurt and or comfort. I believe this film gives meaning to the words ‘choose wisely,’ Regardless of our struggles, how poor we are, or how many people are in our lives, at the end of the day, we decide what we do.

Reaction
Like my review, the film Tsotsi is pretty long but I thought it was fascinating. So often I see films that surround the basis of a storyline toward extravagant places or people. This film reminds me of what it means to struggle and to be a lost child. I identify with Tsotsi, through and through. It’s a unique film that faces the tragedies of the real world.