Mrs. Movie reviews: Tsotsi

Mr. Movie and I have recently discussed a strange phenomenon that happens (at least with us) when we go to see foreign films; we have a tendency to be more forgiving of the rudimentary nature of those films. The things that we might find cliché or melodramatic in an American film are often charming in those from other countries. This definitely rang true for Tsotsi. This is a tale of a young thug (the literal translation of the word tsotsi) that lives in an impoverished township in Johannesburg. We are witness to his life and the level of desperation that he endures for survival. He seems completely unlikable until one car jacking goes wrong and he unknowingly takes a car with a baby boy in the back seat. This of course leads to a road of redemption and true human interactions for the first time in his life. Now this is usually the type of film that I would hate, however I completely fell for this movie, it was heartbreaking but never over the top. The music was compelling and the acting quite touching. The cinematography truly took you to South Africa and made me personally feel the sadness that grips these communities.