Tsotsi.

Tsotsi is an action packed, drama film released in 2005 and directed by Gavin Hood. The film is based off the novel with the same title, written by Athol Fugard. The setting of the film takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa and part of the Alexandra Slum. The film follows the main character Tsotsi, who is a young, violent thug that actively commits crimes. The beginning of the film shows Tsotsi, along with three other thugs, in an extremely graphic scene. All four of the individuals decide to rob and kill a man that enters the train. Soon after mugging the passenger on the train and a fight that occurs within the group, Tsotsi shoots a young woman by the name of Pumla and steals her car. While attempting to steal her car and steal valuables, Tsotsi soon discovers that a young baby is strapped to its baby seat in the back of the vehicle. Unable to cruelly leave the three month old baby alone as it cried out for its mother's touch, Tsotsi decides to take the baby back to his home. Once realizing that he could not take care of the baby properly and to his best attempt, he spots a woman in his village and forces her at gunpoint to feed the baby he kidnapped. Many times after, Tsotsi continues to make the woman feed the baby he could not care for. However, once the woman pieced together his violent lifestyle after reading the newspaper, Tsotsi takes the baby back from her for good. As he walks away, the woman reminds him that as much as he may try to take care of this kidnapped baby, he will never take the place of his mother and he needs to return the baby back to his parents. Flooded with guilt, Tsotsi sets off to finally return the baby back home to his parents. Once Tsotsi spoke into the intercom that he will leave the baby outside of the home's gates, the police soon arrives and takes over the premises with their cars. The baby is safely returned to the arms of his parents. The film ends with Tsotsi surrendering to the police with his hands in the air.

There were many themes through out the film that can be seen. Violence was a frequent occurring thing that began from the moment the film started in the train with the gang, to the end where the police are pointing their guns at Tsotsi. Violence was not only a source of action, but a way of life for the men of the film. Poverty can also be seen within the neighborhood that Tsotsi lived and his own living conditions. When he left the baby alone at home, he returned to seeing insects crawling all over the baby's face. You can see the contrast of worlds existing within the film once you see the community that the parents of the baby lived in, their home was gated and the size of the home was much larger than what we saw earlier in the film.

Tsotsi was an interesting film and very good. Initially, I did not look forward to watching it because of the violence that was showcased so early on in the film. The scene on the train with the passenger being murdered made my stomach turn. I felt the expression on my face become extremely concerned and bothered by what I witnessed. Initially, I saw Tsotsi as a cruel man that continuously committed horrible crimes. Although his actions were still inexcusable, I began to see Tsotsi as a person. The difference between Tsotsi and other criminals is that Tsotsi clearly had a conscience. Most people that commits acts of crime are selfish individuals that only care about their wants and gains, in my opinion. Tsotsi could not leave that baby alone as it cried out in the car. He also took measures in making sure it was cared for, then eventually returned the baby home. When Tsotsi asked the young woman caring for the baby if he could return back to see her afterward, it was clear that he lacked something in his life. Tsotsi needed a family of his own, love, and/or support that would deter him from continuously acting out violently. It seemed that violence was his only way of compensating for what he was missing in life.