March 13, 2006
By Lucky Sindane
IF the cast and crew of Tsotsi think they can get some well-earned rest now that they have returned to Jozi from Los Angeles and the Academy Awards, they are mistaken - celebrations for the Oscar-winning movie are far from over.
The Tsotsi stars got a warm reception when they touched down at Johannesburg International Airport on Sunday morning, 12 March, where about 300 fans were waiting for their heroes.
Tsotsi director Gavin Hood with the movie's stars Presley Chweneyagae and Terry Pheto arrive at Johannesburg International Airport (Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
The local movie took the Oscar for best foreign language film at the 78th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, in the United States.
"It has been appropriate to bring all stakeholders together to plan a fitting reception, complete with street parades, dinners and receptions hosted by all sectors of society," said Eddie Mbalo, the chief executive officer of the National Film and Video Foundation and convenor of the reception committee. "We felt it was important to bring the Oscar to the people."
No sooner had they landed back home, than the cast was taken on a victory tour in an open-topped bus through Alexandra, Diepkloof, Pimville and Kliptown in Soweto.
The movie was shot in and around Johannesburg, mainly in the sprawling township of Soweto and downtown.
Tsotsi tells the story of a township thug - a tsotsi - who is confronted with the depravity of his life while caring for a baby he found in the backseat of a car he hijacked. The lead character is played by Presley Chweneyagae.
The movie is directed by Gavin Hood and is based on a novel by Athol Fugard. It is a story of hopelessness and the struggle to transform.
"The City of Johannesburg was one of the early partners of Tsotsi," said the City's communications director, Gabu Tugwana. "Not only was Soweto a key area for its shooting, but on its release the City hosted four free screenings with Ster-Kinekor in mass populated areas like Alexandra, Kliptown, Orange Farm and Diepsloot.
"The City supplied community venues and security for the nights of [these screenings] and distributed marketing material among these communities," he added.
The City of Johannesburg has pulled out all the stops to make the week-long reception programme a success.
City Manager Pascal Moloi said this was central to the City's strategy to promote Joburg as a popular backdrop to moviemaking, in partnership with stakeholders like the Gauteng Film Office.
The Tsotsi cast also made a surprise appearance at the packed Wanderers Stadium, where South Africa faced Australia in the final one day international cricket match.
Tsotsi actress Terry Pheto urged people who had not yet seen the film to go and watch it. It was a winner at the 2005 Los Angeles AFI Film Festival, the 2005 Toronto Film Festival and at the 2005 Edinburgh Film Festival.
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