Section A - Urban stories: Tsotsi

Question 1

Date

Answer 1

2005

Question 2

Director

Answer 2

Gavin Hood

Question 3

Location

Answer 3

Johannesburg, South Africa

Question 4

Tsotsi

Answer 4

The main character, a confused young boy who is alone in the world. his parents are both dead (HIV), and he attempts to survive on his own (cant count). He gets himself into situations which make him change between a multitude of emotions shown through the members of his gang.

Question 5

Boston / Teacher boy

Answer 5

A heavy drinker who was a teacher, representing Tsotsi’s sense of decency and morality.

Question 6

Aep

Answer 6

Tsotsi’s childhood friend, shown to be simple, happy and obedient. generally a happy fat idiot.

Question 7

Butcher

Answer 7

The violent side to Tsotsi, a cheating relentless manic seen easily committing murder in the opening scenes.

Question 8

The begger

Answer 8

Worked in the goldmines till his legs became broken and he was thrown to one side like a dog with broken legs.

Question 9

The baby

Answer 9

The child that Tsotsi accidentally kidnaps, used for its pure innocence.

Question 10

Mother and Father

Answer 10

The parents to the baby, shown to be extremely loving. The father tries to cooperate with the police and mother has a powerful anger and strength. shown to be caged in by there own society, physically and mentally.

Question 11

Miriam

Answer 11

The widowed mother that Tsoti forces to feed the child, although due to her loving nature force is not needed.

Question 12

The police officers

Answer 12

Show to try and help the situation, without much avail as they have little true power.

Question 13

What is the main conflict in south africa

Answer 13

Racially divided, post apartheid.

Question 14

apartheid

Answer 14

Segregation of people based on race

Question 15

What are the two seperate societes

Answer 15

the city and the townships

Question 16

What is significant about the idea of a gated community

Answer 16

Who is really free? physically they are locked in.

Question 17

What role to the main houses gates play

Answer 17

when they are shut, they stop the women from getting in resulting in her being shot and her car and baby taken. The father crosses the gate at the end of the film which acts as a divide to retrieve his baby.

Question 18

What is the main language heard

Answer 18

Tsotsitaal, which is a form of slang language consisting of a mixture of all main south african languages.

Question 19

How did Tsotsi’s parents die

Answer 19

from aids / hiv

Question 20

What is johannesburg founded on

Answer 20

the hold mining industry

Question 21

What is interesting about the ending

Answer 21

it was one ending out of a possible three, one showing tsotsi being shot, another with tsotsi running back to the slums. the chosen one fades to black allowing the viewer to decide.