Tsotsi (2005)
A raw, Oscar-winning South African crime drama about a teenage gangster whose chance encounter with an abandoned baby forces him to confront his own lost humanity.
Tsotsi - Movie Information
- Original Title: Tsotsi
- Release Year: 2005
- Directed by: Gavin Hood
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Crime, Drama
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 34m
- Original Language: TN
- Spoken Languages: Afrikaans, English, Sotho, Tswana, Zulu
- Release Date (Theatrical): December 23, 2005 (South Africa), February 10, 2006 (United States - R), March 17, 2006 (United Kingdom - 15), May 4, 2006 (Germany - 12), July 19, 2006 (France), June 15, 2006 (South Korea - 15)
- Alternative Titles: Thug (UK), Mi nombre es Tsotsi (AR), Gangster (RS), Tsotsi - Ein Junge aus dem Ghetto (DE), Il suo nome è Tsotsi (IT), Infância Roubada (BR), Mon nom est Tsotsi (FR)
- Production Companies: Movieworld Productions, UK Film & TV Production Company, National Film & Video Foundation of South Africa, Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa
- Production Countries: South Africa, United Kingdom
Tsotsi - Plot
A young South African boy from the Johannesburg ghetto named Tsotsi, meaning Gangster, leaves home as a child to get away from his helpless parents. Now a teenage thug, Tsotsi finds a baby in the back seat of a car he's just stolen. He decides that it is his responsibility to care for the infant and in the process learns that maybe the criminal life isn't the best way.
Tsotsi - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the world of Tsotsi come to life:
In this world... Redemption comes just once.
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Tsotsi - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Gavin Hood
Main Cast
- Presley Chweneyagae
- Jerry Mofokeng
- Terry Pheto
- Zenzo Ngqobe
- Zola
- Rapulana Seiphemo
- Nambitha Mpumlwana
- Percy Matsemela
- Thembi Nyandeni
- Owen Sejake
Writers
- Gavin Hood
Producers
- Peter Fudakowski
Tsotsi - FAQs
What is Tsotsi about?
Tsotsi follows a hardened teenage gang leader in the Johannesburg townships who steals a car and discovers a baby in the back seat. Forced to care for the infant, he begins a raw, unexpected journey toward humanity and redemption. Critics praised it as a powerful portrait of violence, poverty, and the possibility of change.
Does Tsotsi have a happy ending?
The ending is deeply moving rather than conventionally happy. Tsotsi makes a pivotal moral choice that signals his transformation, but it comes at a cost. It's the kind of ending that stays with you — bittersweet, honest, and emotionally resonant rather than neatly resolved.
Where can you watch Tsotsi online?
Tsotsi is available to stream for free on Plex and Plex Channel. You can also rent or buy it on Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. So whether you want a free option or prefer to own it, there are plenty of ways to watch.
Did Tsotsi win the Academy Award?
Yes — Tsotsi won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2006 Oscars, making it South Africa's first-ever Oscar winner in that category. The win was a landmark moment for African cinema and brought the film to a global audience far beyond its initial release.
Who stars in Tsotsi?
The film is led by Presley Chweneyagae in a breakthrough performance as Tsotsi. He's joined by Terry Pheto as Miriam, Jerry Mofokeng as Morris, Zenzo Ngqobe as Butcher, and South African music star Zola as Fela. Chweneyagae's raw, largely wordless performance is widely considered the heart of the film.
Is Tsotsi based on a true story?
Tsotsi is not based on a true story, but it is adapted from a novel. South African playwright and author Athol Fugard wrote the original book in the 1960s, drawing on the harsh realities of apartheid-era township life. Director Gavin Hood updated the setting to contemporary Johannesburg while preserving the story's emotional core.
What does the word Tsotsi mean?
"Tsotsi" is a South African slang word meaning "thug" or "gangster," derived from township street culture. The film's protagonist goes only by this name — he has buried his real identity so deeply that even he struggles to remember it, which becomes one of the story's most haunting emotional threads.
How was Tsotsi received by critics?
Tsotsi earned strong critical acclaim worldwide. Beyond its Oscar win, reviewers praised Gavin Hood's direction, Lance Gewer's vivid cinematography, and Presley Chweneyagae's extraordinary lead performance. Critics highlighted the film's unflinching look at township poverty alongside its surprisingly tender redemption arc as what set it apart.
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