Tsotsi Five Minutes In, Macro Analysis
Tsotsi is a South African film directed by Gavin hood in 2005; the film won the Oscar for best foreign language film. The word tsotsi is South African slang for thug; this is also the name of the character the film centers around. The film is centered around tsotsi, who commands a small group of people, teacher and butcher. This essay will show the macro and micro aspects and the meaning behind them for the opening five minutes of the film.
As the film opens the audience denotes a close up of hands, the hands, through editing, through dice in slow motion. The slow motion close up connotes the importance of the dice. The dice themselves connote chance, gambling, which through previous knowledge we know that chance and gambling (in life) are central ideas throughout the film. Thought cinematography, editing and the use of restricted camera angles we denote four characters in the room of the opening scene. The use of restricted camera angles such as close ups or legs and hands and over the head shots avoiding the faces of the four in the room this connotes a mystery surrounding the characters but also uncertainty for the audience due the lack of insight there is on the characters.
Through the mise en scene and cinematography we denote a high angle, over the head shot, through this shot we see one of the characters (butcher) smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol, this connotes crime, which throughout the film is a constant theme, as the group leaves the room, through a long shot we denote one of the group stealing an apple, also linking this to mise en scene, body language and performance we denote no reaction from people because of the theft, this connotes the idea of crime as a constant theme and living this crimes. As the group walks through the township we denote a low angle mid shot, this connotes there power but also there dominance to the scene. As noting the rule of thirds and the mise en scene, space we connote tsotsi’s importance to the scene, due to him being centered to the scene.
As the group leaves the township we denote a establishing shot of the township, through mise en scene, location we denote dead trees, corrugated iron housing, this connotes poverty but also foreshadows the upcoming events of the opening scene. The scene continues; we denote a high angle camera tilt, as the train leaves the township area and travels to the city. This connotes the idea of the distance, in development, between the townships and the city this is a continually used technique in film, most recently in the film tinker tailor solder spy.
As the group enters the station, we denote through the mise en scene a billboard, ‘we all affected by HIV and AIDS’ this connotes the massive impact that HIV and AID have caused to South Africa, due to the idea of condoms emasculating men. This was used due to it being difficult to get an idea such as the impact of HIV and AIDS across through film, that’s the reason that through the use of mise en scene there are constant reminders. After the victim was killed we denote ‘teacher’ vomiting, as the camera tracks to the left the same poster is show. This connotes, due to the repetitive nature of the billboard, that HIV and AIDS do cause large scale problems in the country.
Continuing from when the group enters the station, we denote the diagetic sound, the sound in the scene it turned off and focuses on the train noise. This connotes the concentration as the group searches for a target; this idea is fortified through the cinematography and editing. The use of POVs allows the audience to see through the characters eyes; we denote the quick cuts between the people in the train station, as the selected target is shown we denote a close up on tsotsi eyes and a shot reverse shot. This shows the importance to the film that the man has. Also during this scene we denote the space, the group including tsotsi at tightly packed with little space between them, were as the victim is alone centered to the screen, rule of thirds, this connotes the difference in wealth and social standing, this is also seen through the mise en scene costume, their clothes connotes low wealth due to the quality and condition of the closes where as the victim is seen in a suit and tie, this has some symbolism to the idea of white collar which also has connotations to a higher class.
During the opening scene the diagetic dialog is limited, so through a mixture of cinematography and mise en scene. On the train we denote the group surrounding the victim, there is no dialog but we learn and understand their characters through facial excretions. We denote ‘teachers’ being seen through a high angle, showing his powerlessness, as the victim looks at him by use of a shot reverse shot, he looks down, this connotes shame, he is ashamed of himself for how he earns money. As the camera shows a close up on ‘butchers’ face, we denote anger, as the shot reveres shot goes between the victim and ‘butcher’ there is fear shown on the victims face, this is exastabated by the mise en scene, prop, the use of the ice pick. As the camera quick cuts between the characters, tsotsi, through Foley ‘shhh’ the victim, we denote this twice. This connotes the authority of tsotsi and his need to control the situation, this is fortified by the node we denote that tsotsi give to ‘teacher’ to begin the robbing. Throughout the opening scene tsotsi we denote a never changing impossible to read facial exasperation this connotes possible psychological damage in his past.
As the victim is stabbed with the ice pick we denote the diagetic sound of the ice pick going into the victim and being twisted, also denoting the facial exasperation of Butcher we connote the violence and anger behind the act, this idea is fortified by the Foley of the ice pick being twisted and pulled in and out. We denote the victim lying dead in the empty train with a small glimmer of light that fades as the doors to the train close, this connotes the idea of him leaving this world, and also the isolation of death is portrayed by being alone on the train. Throughout the opening scene there a shown to be differentness in mentality between the group. In the opening scene we denote ‘teacher’ reading as the others gamble, also noting his clothing glasses, these are all connotations of a higher intelligence stereotypically also the shame shown during the robbery. Whereas ‘butcher’ who said through the diagetic dialogue,’ eleven’ to the question four plus five showing his lack of intelligence, but without shame or hesitation robs and kills someone, this connotes a dived between, power of the mind, intelligence and power of the body, brut force.
