It grips you, the trials of these characters. Thug ‘Tsotsi’ (Presley Chweneyagae) tries to make a name for himself. Crew collapsing in on itself after a murder. Tsotsi, the gangster, hides from the rain. Drawn into the situation, relies on instincts instilled in him since he was young. He reacts as his character should. What will happen to the baby?
His improvisation to care for it draws a laugh at first. (A reminder of Kramer vs Kramer meets Friday, but poor.) The helpless man-child with no clue what to do with a baby. His broken inner self drives him to hunt for blood. For answers. All he finds is other people’s pain. He doesn’t kill for pleasure, he does it only to survive. Butcher (Zenzo Ngqobe) kills so easily. Tsotsi leads the rabble to the punchline, without swaying, his motive is reasonable enough.
It’s about survival, at least on the surface. He uses the knowledge of his ruthlessness to enhance his name. Which is also about survival, but he likes it, as much as he hates his life and himself.
Tsotsi is an easy young man to like, despite the ignorant way he neglects a baby. In South Africa, in a world of poverty, this crime story feels fresh. Tragedy and compassion. Real characters.
Tsotsi relives his childhood pains as he reassesses his life choices. His gormless friends, dumb but somewhat loyal. Some more than others. And a banging soundtrack.
Poverty on a striking scale – from a literal nothing, the ambition it takes to rise up to reach poor. The help Tsotsi finds in Miriam (Terry Pheto) – an innocent woman, is beautiful in her way. This could be better shown. But her native fashion is cute and her quiet creativity is interesting. She is smart enough to be careful.
It takes time for the story to kick into gear – but all the while the characters are fascinating in their cautious ways. The action is killer, yet gradual. Poor Tsotsi. His life is falling down around him, it seems. It’s a tragedy, but at the same time it is the growth of a young man and the pain of his every day.
Aap (Kenneth Nkosi) is a follower, but he’s always been there. Boston (Mothusi Magano) is a brain, but he falls apart after the murder. Tsotsi is a compelling protagonist. A character who rings true, long after the story closes.
The film looks and feels polished, but not artful, though the writing is strong in events and structure. The characters are full and immersive. The dialogue is okay. They play dice for money. Craps. Their lives are modest. Their crew is tight. Ready to take over the neighbourhood. Poised to explode, but fate has better plans for them. Almost reminds me of Japanese films about Asian gangsters – the fraternisation of friends, brothers in crime.
By this story’s conclusion, gentle viewer will have learned the meaning of Tsotsi’s life, and as a result, will have learned the why behind his every choice, every action.
It’s not about money, it’s about keeping on. Making tomorrow a little bit better than today. Reaching for the better house, the better state of life. But when Tsotsi looks at the man with the nice house, he doesn’t feel envy, just opportunity.
These friends, this crew, they’re supposed to go with you when you grow. You’re supposed to succeed together. Life doesn’t work that way. Decency seems like a word thrown too easily and meaning less than the sum total of Tsotsi’s parts.
2.5 stars
the joy of eating and the folly of thinking 