SCREENING REPORT 5: SOUTH AFRICA: TSOTSI

By: Ashley Winrow

March 29, 2019

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

Tsotsi​ displayed beautiful deep meaning and also basic camera technique, though, the film was
quite dynamic. We discussed how South Africa was evolving at the moment from events in the
past and evolving as a country. ​Tsotsi​ happens to display the life (besides the baby) of many
individuals, South African or not.

2) Find a related article and summarize the content.

The article summarized ​Tsotsi​ as simply a demonstration of the life of a South African native
who experienced many disheartening experiences. This article of the film displays views of
regular camera angles and creates a dynamic view for the viewer of South African life. This
review stressed the universality of this movie and how it can relate to almost any culture to date.

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

The article summarized the film perfectly and I understood the viewpoint of the article. I
understood ​Tsotsi’s ​calculated moves and the meaning that they presented in the film, this
review demonstrates a great explanation of this different viewpoints and meaning of different
scenes in this film. The music of the film was also an amazing plus: “​Aided by a brilliant
soundtrack-a mixture of contemporary African electronica and traditional music-it compliments
well the mixture of new and old that the film involves.” (Livewire, 2006)

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.

Tsotsi ​was a greatly executed film, I adored the meaning and also the obscurity of the film. I
think the film was ahead of its time. It uses a standard use of camera angles, though it portrays
the story perfectly and I would not change a thing if I was directing this film. The nonverbal
language, actions, and energy of the characters were simply spot on to the theme of the movie
and traveled beautifully to the end of the film.

C​itations

1. https://www.africaresource.com/arts-a-culture/reviews/199-a-film-review-of-tsotsi

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM  

1) ( ✔ ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.  
 
2) ( ✔ ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other 
classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.  
 
3) ( ✔ ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, 
or used indentation and citation within the text.  
 
4) ( ✔ ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the 
bibliography in the text of the paper.  
 
5) ( ✔ ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.  
 
6) ( ✔ ) 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) ( ✔ ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or 
originality.  
 
8) ( ✔) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about 
the research and ideas used in my paper.  
 
Name: Ashley Winrow  Date: March 29, 2019