Tsotsi (2006)

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

We recently watched, Tsotsi (2006) directed by Gavin Hood, a movie about a South African misguided young man who lives by a code of violence. While he gets into a fall with his gang members he casually shoots a woman, steals her car and her baby in the mist of it all. In class we talked about the cinematic style that was used in the film and different ways to story-telling. During the start of the film the character was dressed in dark clothes and was shadowed by his anger and mischievous ways. But after realizing his trauma and confronting it he soon was not only able to open up physically with his mouth and expressive ways but the camera and cinematography seemed to falter him as well, brightening up moving more to his perspective instead of the audience being passive views, we are not active participants in his lives and decision making. 

2)  Find a related article and summarize the content.

Lindiwe Dovey (2007) Redeeming features: from Tsotsi (1980) to Tsotsi (2006), Journal of African Cultural Studies, 19:2, 143-164, DOI: 10.1080/13696810701760435

This article interprets Hood’s film adaptation and how it is an exploration of New Age South African Cinema post-apartheid. 

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.

the article stresses whether or not the film itself is about redemption and the author strongly critics the contemporary violence exhibited in this movie. This movie, set in a time when apartheid was illegal, but probably still practiced within the people. After examining the film within the landscape of post-apartheid cinematic production, Dovey proceed to analyze whether Tsotsirepresents a truly independent cinematic voice and idea, or whether its potential critique is compromised by pseudo-political propaganda. The film, in the center of South Africa's two major political discourses – liberalism and Marxism – Dovey examined how the film handles violence, death, the representation of South African realities, and redemption.

4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article.

I personally liked the movie, I was not a big fan of the main character at first but he ended up doing the right thing, and that is all that matters. The conceptual style of the film is what really makes it stand out of most South African films. Just like in the article mentioned prior, the unique South African style is what really made me remember this movie. The country has a rich history and a sad and complicated one as well, for a movie that hailed one of the best things to put South Africa on the map, I am happy It is a movie about a young boy who faces his demons and trauma. The movies style and choice of narrative was also interesting as I thought it would drag on with no clear motive. The actors were good and the pacing and story was not meaningless, 9/10!

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 
1) ( X ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.

2) (  X) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.

3) (X  ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.

4) ( X ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.

5) (X  ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.

6) ( X ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.

7) ( X ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.

8) (X  ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Nnenne O_  Date: May 8 2018