August ’23 – Nominated By MA
Nominations
- Slumdog Millionaire – 0 Votes
- Cit of God – 1 Vote
- Boyz n The Hood- 2 Votes
- The Fugitive – 2 Votes*
*Won on wheel decision
Plot Synopsis
David, known as “Tsotsi,” is a young man who leads a violent life in Johannesburg, leading a small gang of thugs who commit crimes to survive. His past is troubled, with a history of abandonment and abuse, leading him to become emotionally detached and ruthless. The film gradually unfolds his backstory, showing how he became the hardened criminal he is in the present.
One night, after shooting a woman and stealing her car, Tsotsi discovers her baby in the back seat. Instead of abandoning the infant, he unexpectedly takes the baby back to his shanty. This decision starts a transformational journey for Tsotsi. Over the next few days, his interactions with the baby bring forth suppressed emotions and memories from his childhood.
As Tsotsi struggles with caring for the baby, he enlists the help of a young widow named Miriam to breastfeed the child. Miriam, through her kindness and understanding, begins to influence Tsotsi, showing him that there’s more to life than violence and crime.
While the search intensifies for the baby by the police and the baby’s father, Tsotsi is faced with numerous moral dilemmas. He’s torn between his old life of crime and the potential for redemption.
The climax of the film sees Tsotsi confronted with a choice that could determine his future and the baby’s fate.
Themes:
“Tsotsi” delves deep into the theme of redemption and transformation. The film showcases the idea that no one is beyond saving and that the human spirit, no matter how broken, can find its way back to compassion and empathy. The bleak setting of Johannesburg’s slums serves as a stark backdrop to Tsotsi’s internal journey from heartlessness to humanity.
The film was widely acclaimed and won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006.
Average Scores
| Enjoyable | Plot | Acting | Camera | Themes | Music | Casting | Wildcard | Total | |
| Average Score | 5 | 0.65 | 1.01 | 0.58 | 0.2 | 0.43 | 0.3 | -0.21 | 8.05 |
| Max Score | 5 | 2 | 1.5 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | +/- 0.5 | 11.5 |
| Difference | 0 | 1.35 | 0.49 | 0.43 | 0.3 | 0.08 | 0.1 | 0.71 | 3.45 |
Individual Scores
| Reviewer | Enjoyable | Plot | Acting | Camera | Themes | Music | Casting | Wildcard | Total |
| MA | 5 | 0.5 | 1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | -0.3 | 8 |
| YA | 5 | 0.75 | 1.25 | 1 | 0.15 | 0.4 | 0.4 | -0.2 | 8.75 |
| ZA | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| KS | 5 | 0.65 | 1 | 0.3 | 0.25 | 0.3 | 0.4 | -0.15 | 7.75 |
| TS | 5 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | -0.2 | 7.7 |