Assessment Criteria

Today's essay, 26 August

Miriam has the strongest influence on Tsotsi, bringing out his humanity. “Tsotsi relies on her for milk and to care for the baby. She almost becomes a mother not only to the child but also to. Miriam's decency and gentleness spark memories in Tsotsi of his own mother who died of AIDs and her positive life style makes him realise that there is more to life than crime and violence. To risk something of himself to The redemption narrative is a Tsotsi must take the audience do the right thing and not pass standard Hollywood convention. With him on his journey to that responsibility on to Miriam, It is a convenient device for decency via some form of makes him redeemable and even the despatching of sympathetic redemption.

Describean important change experienced by a character or individual in the text.
Explain how verbal and/or visual features showed you that this change wasimportant to the character or individual.

THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION FOR TSOTSI

For a really good essay, you could describe three aspects ofTsotsi’s change from heartless thug to human being and for each aspect youcould explain how a verbal or visual feature showed the importance of thischange.

INTRODUCTION: ANSWER THE QUESTION IN BRIEF

EXAMPLE:

Tsotsi, the main character in Gavin Hood’s South Africandrama of the same name, changes from a hardened gangster to a human being inthe course of the film. Hood emphasises the changes in Tsotsi through camera work, dialogue and costume. This emphasis on change shows us that it isthe point of the film. Hood wants us to see how South Africa could change andhow the cycle of violent crime could be broken.

Throughout the film, Tsotsi’s change is conveyed visuallythrough camera work. A mid-shot at the start shows a bare-chested Tsotsistanding somewhat wistfully by the open door his hut in Soweto, isolated fromhis mainly rough associates who play dice on his worn table. Later a trackingshot of Tsotsi and his gang walking through the township cuts to a close-up ofTsotsi, finger raised in defiance at a rival gang. We see close ups of his facewhen Butcher kills one of their victims and can see that his almostexpressionless face registers some unease. Later close-ups and slow zoom-ins tohis face show his gradual humanization. He looks fondly at the baby he hasaccidentally kidnapped and his face softens when he looks at Miriambreastfeeding the child. Hood can’t afford to let the camera work show a suddenchange but he is able to show a gradual melting away of Tsotsi’s hard, defiantstare into something much kindlier. The final shot of the protagonist is from alow angle at a mid-shot, showing him actually surrendering to the police afterhaving given back the baby. The viewer gets the feeling that he has given up thecriminal way of life, a truly amazing transformation in such a scarred youngcharacter. All these shots show how the change in Tsotsi is paramount to themeaning of the whole film.

Through dialogue also, we see the significance of Tsotsi’s transformation.At the start the one “decent” member of his gang, Boston, tries to get a moralreaction from Tsotsi after the murder of the man in the train. He senses thereis some normal human emotion deep down within Tsotsi. Boston cuts his arm andasks, “Did anyone do this to you (figuratively speaking)… and you bled?” This leads onto otherdialogue where we gradually learn more about Tsotsi’s background as he toostarts to come to terms with it. While he had a brutal father, he remembers akind mother, who, dying of AIDS, said to the young Tsotsi, “Don’t be afraid;come and hold my hand.” Remembering the past and experiencing the humanizingeffect of looking after a baby and meeting Miriam, Tsotsi starts to change. Hetries to put the gang behind him – a first step on the road to redemption.“It’s finished,” he tells Aap. “Finished and done.” This simple stark dialogueis delivered in a Soweto dialect with English subtitles which merge perfectlywith the speech. Because it is so sparse the verbal element is more powerful.

Costume also indicated Tsotsi’s change. At the start of thefilm, during the crime scene in the train, he wears a black hoodie. An extremeclose-up shows his intent eyes looking for a victim. With his hood up, he lookslike a typical gangster as his name suggests he is. The darkness of hisclothing is matched by the dullness and gloom of his surroundings. When we meetMiriam, however, we see her dressed in traditional African clothing coloured inearthy, warm tones like orange and red. Her hut is decorated with broken glassmobiles which catch the light and she drapes her furniture with blankets madefrom coloured patchwork squares. This obviously symbolizes a person whocelebrates life and can find beauty even in poverty. Miriam’s influence softensTsotsi. She persuades him to take the baby back and when he does he dresses ina white shirt. The way the camera picks up this shirt in the final symbolicshot when he surrender to the police shows how important this idea ofredemption is. Viewers see the white shirt as more significant because it contrastswith the black hoodie of the murder scene.

Gavin Hood has successfully created a fable of hope. He hasshown how a person can change. If the seeds of “decency” are within him and hehas the right influences, even a thug can change his ways. This is a simplefilm but the techniques are very polished so that dialogue, camera and costumecan chart the protagonist’s journey from Tsotsi (thug) to David (his realname).

Today's essay question, 5 November

Describe an important idea in the text.

Explain how verbal and/or visual features of the text help you understand this idea.

An important idea in the text is redemption. The film shows that even a hardened young gangster can change and start to make up for the violent crimes he has committed. Dialogue and camerawork in Gavin Hood's South African film, Tsotsi, show the main character taking the first step towards salvation at the very end of the film.

Tsotsi is a teenage thug in a gang of four in Soweto who eventually casts aside his criminal ways in favour of redemption. The film starts with his gang's violent icepick murder of an old man in a train just for the contents of his wallet. Soon afterwards a member of the gang called Boston or Teacher Boy starts to feel regret and wants to make Tsotsi feel something too. He says, 'DECENCY, Tsotsi. Do you know the meaning of the word?' Tsotsi refuses to feel anything and beats Boston up viciously. But soon after this his life changes when he steals a car with a baby in it after shooting the child's mother and crippling her. The baby changes his life. Not only does its helplessness bring out a gentler side in the young gangster, but it also causes him to get in touch with Miriam, a neighbor who has her own baby and is forced to breast-feed Tsotsi's stolen child at gunpoint. Miriam's decency and gentleness spark memories in Tsotsi of his own mother who died of AIDs and her positive life style makes him realise that there is more to life than crime and violence. He returns the baby to its parents and, surrounded by police, he raises his arms in surrender.

Dialogue helps us understand the meaning of Tsotsi's actions. He tells his closest friend in the gang, Aap, that gang life is over for him: 'It's over, finished and done with.' This is made more interesting by the fact that the film is all spoken in a Soweto dialect and there are English sub-titles. Hood keeps dialogue in the film to a minimum and and every word counts. Later Tsotsi looks at Miriam who quietly persuades him to give the baby back, 'If I take him back,' he asks, can I still come here?' This shows that he sees in Miriam a possibility of a better life and he knows that he can only earn the right to see her if he acts with human decency. Camera techniques also help us understand his redemption. The close ups of actor Presley's face show a hardened thug with no emotion - but after visiting Miriam a few times, Tsotsi's facial expression in close-ups shows a new humanity. The biggest symbol of redemption, however is when Tsotsi, at the end , wearing a white shirt instead of a black hoodie, raises his arms to surrender to the police. This is filmed from several different angles at the end, the last one from a low angle to stress his stance of surrender. His uplifted arms contain a sort of Christian symbolism too and we can see that Tsotsi is not going to fight any more but take whatever consequences his crimes have led to.

This film shows hope not only for Tsoti's soul and conscience but for the country of South Africa too, where the crime on the streets might one day be replaced by 'decency'.

Here are some practice NCEA questions from a few years ago.

1. Describe an interesting character in the text.
Explain how verbal and/or visual features of the text make him or herinteresting.

2. Describe an important idea in the text.
Explain how verbal and/or visual features of the text help you understand this idea.

3. Describe a significant event in the text.
Explain how verbal and/or visual features of the text make this event important.

4. Describe at least TWO production techniques used in the text.
Explain how EACH technique makes it worthwhile to view or listen to the text.

5. Describe a strong relationship or conflict in the text.
Explain how verbal and/or visual features of the text help you understand this relationship or
conflict.

6. Describe what you liked most (or least) about the text.
Explain how verbal and/or visual features made you react this way.

Verbal features include music, sound effects, dialogue, etc

Visual features include cameratechniques, lighting, props, costumes, colour, etc

This comes from the actual achievement standard on the web!

Note well: Presley Chweneyagae is the name of the actor who plays Tsotsi. Gavin Hood the director chose him instead of Zola (who plays the car dealer) because Presley has a baby-face and looks more capable of redemption. It is certainly true that the 'camera loves him'. His close-ups are full of emotion and his soft face makes him look vulnerable. Part of the success of the film is the emotional effect of Presley's acting. He doesn't have to say much - you can see in his eyes that he is searching for meaning in life!

Look at the first question. Describe an interesting character in the text.
Explain how verbal and/or visual features of the text make him or herinteresting.
You could answer it on Tsotsi.

Here's an example

An interesting character in Gavin Hoods Tsotsi is the title character. Tsotsi is interesting because of the extreme journey he goes on and the great acting by Presley Chweneyagae.

Tsotsi is a thug from Soweto who operates in a gang of four, killing other black people for money in the most brutal manner. At the start of the film we see Tsotsi help kill an old man on a train with an ice pick in order to steal his wallet. Soon after he shoots the mother of a young baby, crippling her for life. He steals her car with the baby in it and does not return the child until he has undergone a big change of heart. This change in Tsotsi comes about because of the softening effect of the helpless child whom he carries around in a large paper shopping bag . Because of the baby he makes contact with the gentle young mother of another baby miriam whose postive example of making the best of life, makes him actually rsik arrext by retunging the babyu to his parents.

Visual and verval features make this character much more interesting. Casting Preseluy as the scharacter

Tsotsi

This image shows the gang of four at the railway station just before they kill the elderly man in the train. From left to right we see Boston (or Teach), Butcher, Aap and Tsotsi himself on the right.

Notice how their costume sends a message about their characters. Contrast Tsotsi's gloomy looking hoodie here with the neat white shirt he wears when he takes the baby back.

This extreme close-up from the stabbing scene gives us important information about Tsotsi's state of mind before he found the baby and met Miriam. He is eying up the victim for the gang and is eyes are empty of emotion, cold and hard. However, unlike Butcher, he does not seem happy with what he is doing. what do you think?

Look at question 3

Describe a significant event in the text.
Explain how verbal and/or visual features of the text make this event important.

An event we watched today is the stabbing of the man in the train

It is important because it introduces us to Tsotsi's violent and crime ridden lifestyle. Boston's disgust at this killing and Tsotsi's depression after it make Tsotsi more likely to change after he found the baby.

The scene starts with the gang looking around for someone to rob. A swish pan from Tsotsi's point of view takes us to the markets in the station where a young woman is selling colorful scarves and ties. The film cuts from Tsotsi's intent eyes to the stall where an elderly man pulls out a fat pay packet and pays for a bright tie. A close up of Tsotsi's eyes, above, shows his evil intent. In one similar shot, behind him are out of focus bright lights from the station and indeed the colours of the scarf stall are significant too. They contrast with Tsotsi's dark hoodie and dark attitude and foreshadow the colour symbolism that goes with Miriam. The image at the top of the page probably comes from this scene. It shows the two sides of Tsotsi: the light and the dark, the evil and the redemption.

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.

Die Aap

Tsotsi Miriam Lee

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.

Tsotsi Miriam's Shack

Miriam

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.

Tsotsi Miriam Palmer

Morris

Tsotsi Miriam Smith

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.