As I started watching Tsotsi, I had a deep loathing for the main character. Tsotsi, played by Presley Chweneyagae, was a ruthless gang leader in Johannesburg, Africa. I wondered what happened to make such a young boy so evil and amoral. As the movie progressed, I found myself becoming more compassionate but not forgiving because his crimes were not easy to process. By the end of this film, which spanned over a 6 day period, I was moved to tears. In 2006, Tsotsi won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film as well as nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Foreign Language Film. Tsotsi was directed by Gavin Hood who was also nominated for a couple of European awards for his endless work on this film.
Tsotsi has a profound message and will cause you to do some soul searching. Love can heal many folks. The absence of love can do much damage and cause many significant problems. I believe this movie should be seen by all, if only to get you thinking about who you are when it comes to a situation like this in your own backyard. Tsotsi is on DVD and is available on Netflix’s instant watch. I urge you to check it out.