Tsotsi Baby

Tsotsi Baby Rating: 4,6/5 154 votes

Tsotsi Baby Handover Song
Tsotsi Before The Baby

Character Analysis

Tsotsi Character Analysis

Our initial impression of Tsotsi would be that he is ruthless man who isolates himself emotionally. He doesn’t talk about his current state of mind, collaborative his thoughts with others or reminisce of his past. The only form of communication to others is when he commands his gang members to carry out a specific action. Tsotsi lives by three rules: 1- working in the moment, 2-never think about his past and 3- not tolerating any kind of questions. Regimenting himself so strictly enables him to only look out for his best self-interest, this is what brings Tsotsi to being the leader of his gang as he is the youngest in age out of the other thee members. Handpicking his victims for his next murder case is solely based upon his agitation level. The death of Gumboot was because of thee reason: he smiled too much and looked too happy, his tie reminded him of his own childhood and he had money. Gumboot was living a happy fulfilling life, one that isn’t seen in the township that he lives in. Tsotsi believes that by following these three principles is his sense of personal protection, by isolating himself from risks of learning about his pasts is the safest choice of living.
After targeting Morris, the man who had lost both of his legs Tsotsi has redeveloped a major emotion: compassion. After targeting Morris and stalking him Tsotsi is able to relate Morris to his old yellow dog as they have both lost their use of legs. This memory had triggered the sense of sympathy towards Morris, being how powerless and helpless he is. This emotion becomes summoned because through his childhood, he watched his father break his dogs back. However he was unable to help his dog out y his father’s rage and seeing eventually his dog dying had brought Tsotsi to be powerless with the desperate want to fix things. Having the same emotions towards Morris brings the first time ever Tsotsi has developed emotions towards anyone else. Ultimately through these emotions this also marks the first time Tsotsi decided not to kill his targeted victim. Showing that he is able to control himself over his impulses by making decisions over them. This is the start of his journey of gaining self-decency as he regains a sense of humanity and discovering more about his past.
In the flashback of his childhood of when he was ten years old -a time when David Madondo was all that existed-Tsotsi reveals his innocence. As a child, Tsotsi was very energetic, obedient and happy. He didn’t have anything to fear at this point, he was full of life and appreciating everything there was to offer. Tsotsi was very timid as well -never speaking out of term and always looking for his mother’s approval for answers-. He grew up in the township, having porridge for supper and sharing a single blanket with his mother for warmth: a typical family from poverty. Losing his mother to the police raid, having the disproval of his own grandmother then his built-up image of his father after killing his dog being shattered- he fled his house. Tsotsi took away the fact that you cannot put your trust in other people; you must be self-sufficient to make progression. After leaving his first gang, the river gang he learnt the basis of survival where, again you need to look after yourself first and foremost. He learnt that emotions are what weaken you as well, and becoming weak will make you more vulnerable to death. In order to survive he had to lock up his emotions and rely and trust only himself. This set the stage for current-day Tsotsi as he became so focused on survival, he detached himself from humanity; carrying no reason to live aside from surviving as long as possible.
Being directed by Boston, Tsotsi ended up in front of “The Church of Christ the Dreamer” in pursuit of finding answers for him. By looking for answers from God, Tsotsi is seeking guidance by an external source; he is breaking down his walls of isolation. Tsotsi has finally realized that he doesn’t just have to life on survival mode: he is able to embrace his life and live out who he actually is. “He [God] has got something to do with me,” Tsotsi is admitting to having a connection with God. Being connected to a higher power, he is surrendering his superiority of being the leader and knowing what to do and when. Tsotsi believes that through connecting to God he will be closer to discovering himself as a whole and will ultimately help him reclaim his former life.
In the end, we can conclude that Tsotsi has developed integrity. This is seen when he dives into the crumbling ruins to reach the hiding place of his baby. Just before running out the door, his final conversation with Miriam concludes to dropping his identity of being a “tsotsi” and reclaiming his former life as David Madondo. Knowing that he isn’t going to be coming back alive gives him the strength to admit the identity of how he wants to be remembered: self-sacrificing, morally just man. Tsotsi has been able to break out of his “isolated shell” when he sacrifices his life by crushing himself under the fallen ruins to go after the baby. Tsotsi has been able to connect the baby as him; by going back into the ruins to save the baby, he really is saving himself. Although Tsotsi is in a nineteen-year old boy, he is still mentally occupying a ten-year old brain. After revealing his body and seeing a smile pasted on his face shows that Tsotsi is satisfied with his sacrifice. He realized he found his destination of who he is, and has grown into who he was supposed to become.

Tsotsi (2006) - Miriam's shack and forcing her to feed the baby. Movie Info A South African hoodlum named Tsotsi (Presley Chweneyagae) lives by a code of violence, and he and his gang of thugs prowl the streets of Johannesburg day and night, attacking those who.

Die Aap

Nicked from his long arms resembling an ape, Die Aap is one of the members in Tsotsi’s gang. He is a very intent listener rather than speaker. Die Aap doesn’t occupy any kind of a job, rather his life consists of drinking, gangs activities: obeying and conducting the orders from Tsotsi. He accepts the life he has, he doesn’t try to challenge Tsotsi’s authority or break free from his state of black oppression.
He resembles the stereotypical male black South African during the time of South Africans apartheid: no purpose for life, no goals or dreams.

Butcher

Butcher has the similar build as Tsotsi: lithe bone supply however he had unpredictable eyes and an unnerving lower lip. He was also a listener, however he became very agitated with long explanations or stories. He spoke very minimal, topping it off at a maximum of ten words. He is also apart of Tsotsi’s gang. He never question’s Tsotsi’s motives, rather he supports him and enforces what’s tolds.
Similar to Die Aap, he resembles the lifestyle of a black man in South Africa during their apartheid: jobless and caught up in drinking and participates in gang violence.

Miriam

Tsotsi faces a dilemma and he decides take the baby with back to his home. Through out the film you see that the baby changes Tsotsi for better, Tsotsi regains his humanity. Gavin Hood did an amazing job on this film, he used lighting, sound,music, flashbacks, and more to communicate the theme and message of the film.

Miriam is an eighteen-year old with a six month old baby, Simon; named after her husband. She is a civilian of the Johannesburg Township as she never acts out of line or goes against authority. However she was guilty on holding onto the hope that her husband will return home after eight months. She was afraid of facing reality, of resuming a life without him. She is connected to Tsotsi as she is the provider of milk for his baby.
Miriam had taught Tsotsi the unconditional love between a mother and their child. After coming to terms with herself that her husband will never come back, that he was robbed of his life by the police, she was able to teach Tsotsi that he has to let go of the past. She also became his rock or constant. Tstosi would come back to her for help, confess to her about his true identity, and to talk to. She was seen as a nurturer for his baby through bathing, feeding and ensuring that he was happy.

Morris

Morris is an elder man who had lost his legs from a mineshaft collapse; he uses his arms as his method of transportation. He is not afraid of others or living his life. Morris became a very self-reliant and self-dependable man, as he doesn’t have anyone else to lean against, only himself. Despite his inabilities he is very optimistic and is able to make the most out of his situation by appreciating the fact that he still is living. He is able to see and enjoy all the beautiful features to earth. Morris is also a wise man; he knows that he has reached the highest point in his life; all he can do is enjoy himself and be grateful for his life that he still has. He was a target of Tsotsi’s as he had planned on killing him as he found Morris to be a disgrace to society. Totsi had stalked and observed Morris and eventually had encountered him.
Confronting Morris, Tsotsi learned the raw willingness to living; and that there is more to life than was you can physically see. Morris showed Tsotsi how to appreciate the gifts given to just living on the earth. Unable to steal his life away from Morris, he became the first victim that Tsotsi has not murdered. Morris had also uncovered the childhood memory of Tsotsi’s crippled yellow dog as they both didn’t have useful legs. This memory had struck Tsotsi as he had realized that this was the “final reality” in life, which was held in the purest form. This marked the first time that Tsotsi had actually felt emotions (compassion) towards others. Allowing Morris to continue living, he became his first target that he has never killed. This also helped in showing Tsotsi that there are choices in life, life isn’t carved in stone you can always make changes.

Boston

Boston is very curious and knowledgeable, as he constantly seeks for answers and asks questions because he doesn’t accept what he was given. Known as being the smart one, Boston is always telling stories as well. However he is seen as the weakest link in Tsotsi’s gang by asking all the questions. Formerly, he had enrolled into university, however by raping a girl he got expelled. Boston did hold visions of his future. He had dreams of actually living his life. Unfortunately he too has become victimized into the apartheid stereotype as a black male by being jobless, constantly drinking alcohol and really having no purpose for life.
Boston’s questions helps to unlock Tsotsi’s past. After accusing Tsotsi of having no decency, Boston actually initiates the spark for Tsotsi’s unconscious pursuit of finding his true identity and bringing on s form of decency. Although Boston knows that it is too late to accomplish what he wants to do in the end, he encourages Tsotsi to embrace his new, changed self. Boston also helps guide Tsotsi in going to the church and finding God.

Isaiah

He was the church bell boy. Although being an older man, he is treating as a little boy by the white workers there. He is seen as being a “uncaring” and irresponsible as he doesn’t seek out the detail and perfection in his work. Isaiah was the one who had told Tsotsi about God and Jesus when he had stopped outside “The Church of Christ the Dreamer”, and answering al the questions asked by Tsotsi.
Isaiah symbolizes the role of Christianity: welcoming everybody and spreading God’s word. He also brings the education to Tsotsi that the former gang actions he had done –thefts, murders- re actually sins but they can always be forgiven. Isaiah juxtaposes the bible: Isaiah the prophet.

The Baby

Tsotsi had snatched the baby from his fleeing mother after hearing his cries inside a shoebox. The baby is a newborn infant and presented life’s form in being the most vulnerable and dependable. The baby ran into many near-death situations under Tsotsi’s care. This baby brought on accountability towards Tsotsi as he had to constantly change, feed and meet the baby’s demands. In the end, Tsotsi names the baby David, after himself.
The baby, in its purest state of life helped bring clarity to Tsotsi. He had uncovered flashbacks of his own childhood, experiencing this the first time he ended up one of his three rules: never ask question. The baby had initiated the curiosity inside of Tsotsi as he had become thirsty in needing the knowledge and answers in discovering his past. The baby’s ability in uncovering the past to Tsotsi helped form his identity and brought back his willingness to living life again. The baby acts as a catalyst towards Tsotsi’s self-discovery by unlicking his childhood, he can form his identity as a person. Ultimately we come to the understanding that Tsotsi is the baby,-although he is inside a nineteen-year old body, he only has knowledge of a ten year old-. In the end, he is not only saving the baby from dying, but he is also saving himself.

'TSOTSI'
(2006) (Presley Chweneyage, Terry Pheto) (R)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
*Heavy	Heavy	Extreme	Heavy	Extreme
Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Mild	Minor	Mild	*Mild	Extreme
Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Heavy	Mild	Heavy	Moderate	Extreme

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: When a carjacking results in him being in the possession of his victim's infant, a tough and murderous street thug slowly finds himself bonding with the baby that starts to change his outlook on life and his lifestyle.

PLOT:

In the slums of Soweto, Tsotsi (PRESLEY CHWENEYAGAE) and his gang -- volatile enforcer Butcher (ZENZO NGQOBE), follower Aap (KENNETH NKOSI) and intellectual Boston (MOTHUSI MAGANO) -- are petty thieves and drug dealers who scrounge to get by, but don't seem to have many cares in the world.

That changes after they murder a man on the subway and Boston begins to question their acts. That and his bringing up Tsotsi's past enrage the leader who beats Boston to a pulp and then runs off into the night. Things then become even more complicated when the young thug carjacks rich Pumla Dube (NAMBITHA MPUMLWANA) and shoots her in the process.

Speeding away, he discovers to his horror that the woman's infant is in the backseat. Prepared to abandon it but then having second thoughts, Tsotsi returns the child to his hovel where he quickly comes to the realization that he has no idea how to care for it. Accordingly, he confronts a mother who lives nearby, Miriam (TERRY PHETO), and makes her breastfeed the baby at gunpoint.

From that point on, and as Pumla's husband John (RAPULANA SEIPHEMO) worries about his severely injured wife and missing child, and Tsotsi's gang grows apart from him, the thug must decide what to do with his life.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: The fact that it won the 2005 Oscar® for Best Foreign Language Film might entice some older teens.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For language and some strong violent content.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFOCurious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The 'Our Take' review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 27 'f' words (in subtitles), while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. A woman's bare breast is seen as she breastfeeds a baby, but no sexual content is present.

Violence includes several deaths (by stabbing and a gunshot), while another person is shot and one gang member pummels another. Those incidents have bloody results and they and other moments might be unsettling or suspenseful to viewers, while some of the behavior (mainly gang-related) might be enticing for some kids to imitate. The perpetrators have obvious bad attitudes for their various crimes, while they and others drink and/or smoke, while some drug use (pot) may be present (they're either smoking cigarettes or marijuana, but the characters are noted as being drug dealers). Parents worry about their kidnapped baby, while the husband of that pair worries about his injured wife.

Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

Butcher may be smoking a joint.

Some of the gang members have what looks like beer.

Some of the gang members have beer, while others there also drink.

Boston appears to smoke pot.

Boston and others have beer.

In a flashback, young Tsotsi's father has a beer.

Boston has beer and comments are made implying that he has a drinking problem (and Tsotsi reminds Boston of finding him on the street, drunk and in his own vomit -- not seen).

Butcher appears to smoke pot.

Aap tries wine in John's house, but says he prefers beer.

Tsotsi Baby Handover Song

We see a little blood on a man's shirt after he's just been fatally stabbed.

Boston vomits following Butcher stabbing a man to death during a robbery.

Upset about Butcher having just murdered someone, Boston breaks a bottle and uses the end to cut his own arm (with bloody results).

Upset with Boston questioning their actions, Tsotsi punches him. He then proceeds to kick and punch him repeatedly, severely bloodying his face.

We briefly see the infant's dirty diaper and Tsotsi uses newspaper to wipe its rear as well as fashion a makeshift diaper on it.

After Tsotsi pulls a gun on a wheelchair bound man, the latter tells the former, 'You made an old man piss his pants' (but we don't see anything related to that).

Days after Tsotsi beat him, Boston's eye is still swollen shut and he has various crude stitches on various cuts on his face.

Blood splatters onto a person's face as another person is shot dead. The victim is then seen on the floor with blood on him and a pool of his blood on the floor by him.

Tsotsi and his minions have bad attitudes for their life of crime (that includes murder, carjacking, kidnapping and drug dealing).

Butcher mocks Miriam, saying that if she doesn't have any milk for her child, she can let it 'suck me,' all as Boston flicks his fingers at his chest to mock breasts.

Tsotsi talks of someone kicking and thus breaking a dog's back.

Needing Miriam's help with the infant he's inadvertently kidnapped, Tsotsi holds his gun on her. She grabs a kitchen knife, but he tells her to put it down and she does. He then continues to aim his gun at her to make her breast-feed the baby (which she does and he stops aiming at her). When he leaves, he threatens that if she tells anyone, he'll kill her.

We hear the sound of young Tsotsi's father hitting a dog, followed by sounds of it whimpering and then crawling out, appearing severely injured.

Scenes listed under 'Violence' and 'Blood/Gore' may be unsettling or suspenseful to some viewers.

Tsotsi and his gang spot a middle-aged man to rob and follow him onto a crowded subway car where they surround him and gesture for him to be quiet. Butcher then pulls out a long, skinny knife. As they rob him, Butcher stabs him once in the gut (with no around them noticing). As the train empties, then they leave him on the floor dead.

Upset with Boston questioning their actions, Tsotsi punches him. He then proceeds to kick and punch him repeatedly, severely bloodying his face.

Tsotsi waits and then gets into Pumla's car when she's at the entrance gate, trying to get John to open it. When she sees Tsotsi in her car, she rushes up and opens the door, with him then shooting her. She falls away and we think she's dead, but she then pops up at the car window as he drives away (we later hear she's alive, but that she might not walk again).

Tsotsi finds Pumla's infant in a car seat in the back of Pumla's car. He's about to abandon both the car and baby, but when he hears the latter crying, he places it in a shopping bag along with other things he steals from the car.

Various scenes of the wailing infant might be unsettling or grating to some viewers, particularly when they know it's under duress.

A man in a wheelchair spits on Tsotsi's shoe, infuriating Tsotsi. But he waits until later to follow the wheelchair bound man out into some desolate part of the city. That man then throws rocks at Tsotsi until the hoodlum pulls his gun, scaring the man who has no way to escape. The man offers Tsotsi his money, but Tsotsi kicks the small canister holding the man's money. After some tense moments, Tsotsi lets the man live and leaves.

When Tsotsi returns to his 'home,' he sees ants crawling all over the shopping bag in which he's still keeping the infant. He then removes the infant that has ants all over its face (the baby is crying, but is okay after that).

We hear the sound of young Tsotsi's father hitting a dog, followed by sounds of it whimpering and then crawling out, appearing severely injured.

Spoiler Alert: Tsotsi, Butcher and Aap stake out a house at night that we then see belongs to John and Pumla. As John pulls up, they rush up and confront him, with Tsotsi holding a gun to his head. Once inside, Butcher wants to knife John right away, but Tsotsi won't let him. As Butcher goes about robbing the place (and finds John's hidden handgun) and Tsotsi solemnly looks through the baby's room, we see John starting to untie himself from his chair. He then activates his car alarm, causing the others to panic. Butcher races up and tries to shoot John, but the gun doesn't fire. He then cocks it again, we hear a shot and blood splatters onto John's face, but we then see that Tsotsi has shot Butcher dead. Tsotsi then holds his gun on John for a moment, but then turns off the car alarm.

The cops raid Tsotsi's place and hold their guns on Boston who's in bed.

Tsotsi goes to return the infant to John and Pumla and is outside at their driveway gate when a cop inside spots him and calls in the reinforcements. Tsotsi is about to leave, but the crying baby brings him back and he picks it up as the other cops arrive and then hold their guns on him. After a few tense moments, including John calmly trying to get the baby back from Tsotsi, the hoodlum does just that as the cops continue to aim their guns at him.

Handguns/Knife: Used to threaten, wound or kill others. See 'Violence' for details.

Tsotsi Before The Baby

Phrases: Phrases (in English subtitles): 'F*ck off,' 'Oh f*ck,' 'F*ck him,' 'F*ck all,' 'F*ck you,' 'You f*cking bastard,' 'F*ck your decency,' 'Smells like sh*t,' 'Bullsh*t,' 'He was sh*t,' 'Chill out,' 'Bastard,' 'Dog,' 'Go to hell' and 'Moron.'

It's possible the film could inspire some kids to act in a gang-like fashion.

Tsotsi gives 'the finger' to others.

Upset about Butcher having just murdered someone, Boston breaks a bottle and uses the end to cut his own arm (with bloody results).

We see miscellaneous graffiti.

A person is suddenly shot and blood splatters onto another person.

A mild amount of suspenseful and ominous music plays in the film.

A song had what sounded like a use of the 's' word, but we couldn't hear or understand the rest of the lyrics in it or other songs, thus presenting the possibility of them containing objectionable material.

At least 27 'f' words, 9 's' words, 1 damn, 1 hell and 4 uses of 'Jesus' (in English subtitles).

Pumla shows some cleavage.

Butcher mocks Miriam, saying that if she doesn't have any milk for her child, she can let it 'suck me,' all as Boston flicks his fingers at his chest to mock breasts.

We see part of Miriam's bare breast as she breast-feeds the infant.

A woman shows some cleavage.

We see Tsotsi in his boxers.

Miriam opens her shirt (thus showing cleavage) and we then see several views of her bare breast (including the nipple) before and during her breast-feeding the infant.

Some smoking is seen (by Butcher, Aap and others), but it's not always clear whether it's tobacco or drug-based.

Boston comments about when Tsotsi's mom left (we later learn he means died) and asks Tsotsi where his father is (Tsotsi doesn't reply).

John is worried about Pumla and their kidnapped baby, while Pumla is worried about the latter as well.

We see a flashback to when Tsotsi was a boy and his mother is very sick in bed (presumably with AIDS). His father then comes in and tells the boy to get away from her so that he doesn't catch anything. Following that and his father severely injuring a dog, Tsotsi runs away (presumably never to return).

Miriam states that her husband never returned home one day and it's implied that he was murdered.

Kids turning to various sorts of gangs for survival and/or companionship and friendship.

How Tsotsi reassesses his life after inadvertently coming into possession of the baby.

Life in shantytowns.

We see various signs about AIDS and HIV.

We see various young kids sleeping in concrete pipes outdoors (this is their home, and we later hear that Tsotsi previous lived there).

Upset about Butcher having just murdered someone, Boston breaks a bottle and uses the end to cut his own arm (with bloody results).

Upset with Boston questioning their actions, Tsotsi punches him. He then proceeds to kick and punch him repeatedly, severely bloodying his face.

Tsotsi ends up driving his stolen car across a street sign, knocking it down and damaging the car.

We hear the sound of young Tsotsi's father hitting a dog, followed by sounds of it whimpering and then crawling out, appearing severely injured.

Reviewed January 30, 2006 / Posted March 24, 2006 Other new and recent reviews include:Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
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