March 6, 2006
By Lucky Sindane
SOUTH Africa and more particularly Johannesburg is celebrating after local movie Tsotsi took the Oscar for best foreign language film at the 78th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, in the United States.
Young Sowetans show their support for the movie Tsotsi
The awards were held on Sunday night, 5 March. The movie was shot in and around Johannesburg, mainly in the sprawling township of Soweto and downtown, giving the city an opportunity to be seen on the international stage.
"Tsotsi has placed Johannesburg firmly in the global spotlight," said the city manager, Pascal Moloi.
He complimented the Citys councillors and administrators for building "a world-class city", adding that the movie would help to promote our city as a prime location for filmmaking and a "must-visit" destination for international travellers and tourists.
Moloi congratulated the cast and crew many of whom are based in Johannesburg. "They have again demonstrated the creative spirit that is prevalent within our city and the fact that this South Africa is a country alive with talent and possibilities."
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.
As the country rejoiced at the win, President Thabo Mbeki congratulated the cast, saying: "I would like to congratulate Gavin Hood, the cast and the entire team for a remarkable achievement. They have made our nation immensely proud.
"It bears testimony to the abundance of South African talent and symbolises what South Africans can achieve when we work together towards a common objective."
A 19-year-old gang leader, Tsotsi lives in a shantytown on the edge of Johannesburg. He was orphaned at an early age and has been forced to scrape a living alone, to adulthood.
One night he hijacks a woman's car, and only afterwards discovers a three-month-old baby in the back. He forces a young woman, Miriam (played by Terry Pheto), to care for the baby and a bond develops between the new "family". Tsotsi eventually opens up to Miriam about his past and is forced to confront his violent nature. Through this, an about-turn begins in his life.
"Tsotsi brings sharply to the fore the important role that the arts can play in nation building," Mbeki said.
"The award, which follows the winning of the Best Actress by South African Charlize Theron in 2004, as well as the nomination of another South African film, Yesterday, in 2005, has given a boost to our film industry while simultaneously propelling our country forward on the global stage to which we were so recently re-admitted and are indebted to make a contribution towards its betterment."
Tsotsi 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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