Tsots

i TSOTSI STUDY GUIDE Chapter 1: Tsotsi – The Little Gangster (8:30) 1. What is Tsotsi’s “gang” doing in the opening scene of the film' How is this symbolic' They are gambling with dice. This is symbolic as it shows how the gang gamble with their lives. 2. Describe the atmosphere created by the music and visuals as they walk through the township. The scene shows the cultural differences between slums and other places. The people lining up to get water suggest that resources such as these are hard to come by. Kwaito, African hip-hop music. The atmosphere shows a feeling of poverty and a context of the environment that Tsotsi has grown up in. 3. What choices do they make at the train station and who is in control' Once they arrive at the station they go upstairs and decide who will be their victim. Tsotsi is in control at the train station as he is at all times. 4. Assess the consequences of these choices. The death of an innocent man. The group recognising how ruthless butcher is. The choices that Tsotsi made weren’t supposed to have these outcomes. He didn’t choose for the man to die. This man’s death were the decisions of butcher who shows no remorse for this. “when we dropped that big man, it was like that inside me”. Boston says this as he cuts himself. 5. Overall how would you describe the opening chapter of this film' Why do you believe it starts this way' The absence of dialogue represents the groups respect and fear for Tsotsi’s choices. The music is symbolic of the culture. The movie tries to create an image of poverty but also Tsotsi leadership and the gangs dependence on the choices of Tsotsi. Chapter 2: The Carjack (14:30) 6. Why does Tsotsi run away from the bar' Because he feels guilty and angry about the fact that he has harmed one of his companions. And another reason may be that he was confronted by questions of his path. 7. Identify TWO techniques used as Tsotsi is running and waiting. What is the effect of these' One of the techniques used was a flashback. Of himself as a child running and himself running at that moment, the footage of his younger self symbolizes him running away from his past. Diagetic sounds, lightning, thunder, rain falling 8. What causes Tsotsi to run off the road in the car' The baby making gurgling noises. 9. Compare Tsotsi’s choice with the baby with the choice he made while carjacking. Both choices were in the moment, he acted on impulse on both of the choices and doesn’t realise or think about the obstacles or outcomes that the choices will bring. Chapter 3: Tsotsi’s Dilemma (20:30) 10. Why is a long shot used to finish the previous chapter and start this chapter' Continuity of where he has run to and then the audiences realisation of where he is taking the baby. 11. How does Tsotsi care for the baby the next day and what does this reveal about him' He doesn’t know how to care for the baby but he tries. His attempts are crude, changing the baby and wrapping it in a makeshift newspaper diaper. Tries to stop the babies crying by dancing. Attempts to feed the baby bread and then condensed milk as an improvisation for regular milk. 12. Who does Tsotsi notice in the township' Why is this important' He notices a mother with her baby and realises that she can feed the child. This is important as 13. Why does the director cut to the baby’s parents at the end of this Chapter' Chapter 4: Egoli-City of Gold (27:30) 14. What motivates Tsotsi to follow the beggar' He trips over the beggar, who in response yells and spits on him. He wants to stand up for himself. 15. Describe the confrontation that occurs between them. Tsotsi follows Morris and intimidates him. He pulls a gun on him Making him pee his pants. The two then talk about why the beggar chooses to go on when he is crippled. 16. Choose one quote from their conversation that stands out to you and explain its importance. “Why do you go on, when you live like a dog”. Tsotsi asks the beggar referring to his crippled state. The beggar replies with “I like to feel the sun on my hands”. Tsotsi makes another reference to a dog. He realizes that the beggar is still a man. 17. How does the confrontation and conversation affect Tsotsi' Tsotsi realizes that the beggar is still a man even though he is “broken”. Chapter 5: Desperate Needs, Desperate Means (37:00) 18. What has happened to the baby while Tsotsi has been gone' The condensed milk that Tsotsi feeds him attracts ants. 19. How does he solve his problems with caring for the baby' He seeks out the mother from the village and forces her to feed the child. 20. Explain what techniques are used to show the two sides of Tsotsi in this Chapter. 21. Quote Tsotsi’s parting words as he leaves with the baby. What do they reveal' Chapter 6: Decency and Respect (43:30) 22. Why is this chapter entitled “Decency and Respect”' 23. What is revealed about each member of Tsotsi’s “gang” in this chapter' 24. More of Tsotsi’s past is shown to us in this chapter. Explore the impact on the responder. Chapter 7: David (53:30) 25. What is the significance of Tsotsi taking the baby to the pipes' 26. Who is David' Why does Tsotsi say the baby is called David' 27. Explain the symbolism of the mobiles' Chapter 8: Umfane-Brotherhood (104:00) 28. Why does Tsotsi want his gang back together' Because he wants to get supplies for the baby. He also realised that his gang was his family and that if they aren’t together then he is has no one. He genuinely feels sorry about what he did to Boston. 29. Butcher asks “why this house'” What do you believe the answer is' To get the baby’s things, but when telling the gang about it he says it’s for the money. He may also be curious about the mother of the child. He know they’re a wealthy family and that they will have expensive things. 30. How is dramatic tension created in the house robbery' John presses his car alarm in the hopes of attracting attention. John action changes the mood and atmosphere instantly, which leads to butcher pointing the gun at john, shoots, the empty barrel clicks, blood splatter across johns face. The realisation that butcher is dead. Mid shot of Tsotsi distraught, shaking. Tsotsi points the gun at John, but doesn’t shoot, only picking up the keys to turn off the alarm. As Tsotsi is running he stops and looks at John. After the two leave, John breathes a sigh of relief. 31. What is revealed by Tsotsi’s choices in this chapter' Tsotsi wants to get supplies for the baby, money for Boston and possibly to see the baby’s mother. These three things show how Tsotsi is changing and how he wants to start taking responsibility. He knows how much this family has suffered so when butcher attempts to kill the father Tsotsi shoots him. Chapter 9: Tsotsi’s Choice (113:00) 32. Outline the consequences of Tsotsi’s choices during the house robbery. 33. What does Miriam say that also has a great impact on Tsotsi' 34. How is music/sound effects used to reflect the mood of this chapter' Chapter 10: Rebirth and Redemption (118:00) 35. Who reports Tsotsi to the authorities' Why' Sookie, the woman who owns the bar across from Tsotsi’s house. 36. Why are the police not necessary' 37. What symbolises Tsotsi’s change in this chapter' Chapter 11: Tsotsi’s Deliverance (125:10) 38. Explain why Tsotsi turns back for the baby. He turns back to say goodbye to the baby. He tries to make it less painful by not saying goodbye. The fact that he turns back tells us that he is connected to the baby. The connection between the baby and Tsotsi is also shown when Tsotsi touches the babies hand and the baby then holds Tsotsi’s finger. 39. How is the difficulty of Tsotsi’s choice further established in this final scene' The fact that we don’t see what happens to Tsotsi is more powerful 40. In your opinion does Tsotsi’s final choice redeem him' Give reasons for your answer. The audience has been on Tsotsi’s journey throughout the whole film, his past, his present, his choices. We may feel that because Tsotsi sees the errors in his ways he has changed for the better.