Tsotsi

Tsotsi is a 2005 crime drama film written and directed by Gavin Hood and produced by Peter Fudakowski. It is an adaptation of the novel Tsotsi by Athol Fugard, and is a South African/UK co-production. Set in the Alexandra slum in Johannesburg, South Africa, it stars Presley Chweneyagae as David/Tsotsi (Tsotsitaal, meaning "criminal"), a young street thug who steals a car only to discover a baby in the back seat. It also features Kenneth Nkosi, Jerry Mofokeng, and Rapulana Seiphemo in supporting roles.

This article is about the film. For the novel, see Tsotsi (novel). For the language, see Tsotsitaal.

Tsotsi
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGavin Hood
Screenplay byGavin Hood
Based onTsotsi
by Athol Fugard
Produced byPeter Fudakowski
StarringPresley Chweneyagae
CinematographyLance Gewer
Edited byMegan Gill
Music byVusi Mahlasela
Mark Kilian
Paul Hepker
Production
companies
The UK Film & TV Production Company PLC
Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa
The National Film and Video Foundation of SA
Moviworld
Tsotsi Films
Distributed bySter-Kinekor Pictures
(South Africa)
Momentum Pictures (United Kingdom)
Release dates
Running time
95 minutes
CountriesSouth Africa
United Kingdom
LanguagesSetswana
Zulu
Sesotho
Afrikaans
English
Budget$3 million
Box office$11.5 million

The soundtrack for the film features Kwaito music performed by South African artist Zola and Afro-pop group Mafikizolo, as well as a score by Mark Kilian and Paul Hepker featuring the voice of South African protest singer and poet Vusi Mahlasela.

The film received widespread critical acclaim, with praise primarily aimed at its writing, direction, and performances, particularly Chweneyagae's and Pheto's, cinematography and emotional weight. It went on to win the 2006 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film, becoming the first South African film and first African film not made in French to win the former. In 2009, it was unofficially remade in Tamil as Yogi.

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