Tsotsi-Shantytown Redemption

A roll of the dice in a crap game opens the 2005 Academy Award winning Tsotsi and for those in Soweto life is a roll of the dice. Tsotsi and his gang live in the shanties of the township beyond the reaches of the affluent big city. Tsotsi, the hardened young leader of a gang, has buried a sorrow so deep that he registers no reaction to the gang’s killing of an elderly man for a few dollars, administers a severe beating to Boston and accosts a crippled beggar beneath the freeway. Survival at this level requires no soul, and Tsotsi’s immediate response to everything is to brandish a gun. But redemption can be found in the strangest places and for Tsotsi it is bundled in blue. When hijacking the car of a wealthy city couple he is oblivious to the infant in the back seat. The child evokes the memory that is the origin of Tsoti’s pain and reconnects him to his childhood. In one moving scene Tsotsi returns “home” with the infant in tow to the concrete culverts where homeless children take refuge. Unable to feed the child, Tsotsi forces a young mother at gunpoint to nurse the baby. As their relationship evolves, Tsotsi inquires about her husband’s whereabouts. When she recounts his murder on his return home after dark, the repercussions of Tsotsi’s deeds begin to dawn on him. He watches with wonder as Miriam interacts with the infant and returns daily to have the child fed. Through Miriam Tsotsi is transformed and regains his sense of decency. She offers to return the child, but Tstotsi knows what he must do. Both the infant and Tsotsi find their way home and although Tsotsi is apprehended by the law he has found self-respect.

The film’s ending leaves us to wonder about Tsotsi’s fate, but I would like to think that this was a new beginning for Tstosi. In many ways this film bears resemblance to the novel Graceland which also offers a message of hope for those born into the poverty of the township. As for Tstotsi, I think he did prison time with a plea for a reduced sentence from the victims, and while in prison he learned to read. Miriam and his childhood friend Die Aap would visit him and perhaps Die too would change since he always looked to Tsotsi to take the lead. Tsotosi will return to the township after release from prison and life will continue to be difficult, but he will live in dignity as Miriam does. Perhaps he can help Miriam market her lovely glass mobiles. Tsotsi’s victims are hopefully changed and more attuned to the hopelessness of their neighbors across the divide. They could invest some of their wealth in a shelter and school for homeless children so that they have a future like their son.

This was my second viewing of Tsotsi and I was no less moved by it this time. An interesting note is that the actress portraying Miriam is herself a former resident of the Soweto township and that Zola, the African rapper who recorded the sound track, plays the part of Fela.