Tsotsi revision - Exploring Films Outside Hollywood - Paper 2 GCSE Film Studies Revision

Exploring films outside of
Hollywood
This is paper 2
The film you are studying
is
Tsotsi made in 2005 and
directed by
Gavin Hood
1

Aims of the exam paper
2
To have detailed
knowledge of the
film and it's
themes
To have
improved
textual
analysis
skills and
apply them
to the text
To have an
understandin
g of issues of
audience and
institution in
respect of the
film
To have
increased insight
into the context
and issues of
equality and
diversity the film

Representations and
Stereotypes
3
Every time we
watch a film,
we are not
seeing reality,
but someone's
version of it.
Representation
therefore refers
to the
construction of
‘reality'
Representation involves
analysing how identities are
re-presented or rather
constructed to communicate
a certain meaning
Look at these images
and using your textual
analysis skills determine
what or who is being
represented, consider
how the representation
is constructed.

Representations and
Stereotypes
4
A stereotype is a commonly held
image of a person or group, based
on an over simplification of some
observed or imagined trait of
behaviour or appearance
mise-en-scene
camerawork
sound
framing
editing
performance

Representations and Stereotypes
Hood up-
connotations
for audience.
Stereotypical
‘thug’
Teenager
represented
as criminal.
Crane shot shows
‘sprawling slum’
Poverty rife-
stereotypical view
of slums
People
represented as
being poor.
Using your own version of
this sheet, discuss in groups
and annotate with notes to
show how each of these
pictures represent the thing
on screen.

In the middle of your paper, write the name
Tsotsi.
You will need lots of different ‘bubbles’.
Start with 1 on your initial impressions of
Tsotsi using the prompts from the next slide.
Character Analysis: It’s important that you
are able to analyse the representation of key
characters is the film.
For revision purposes let’s stick with Tsotsi.
Save space for other important information
on Tsotsi.

Tsotsi
What did
you think of
Tsotsi
during the
opening of
the film?
Initial
thought
s
How does his name
and initial actions
shape your thoughts?

Representations and
Stereotypes
11
A stereotype is a commonly held
image of a person or group, based
on an over simplification of some
observed or imagined trait of
behaviour or appearance
mise-en-scene
camerawork
sound
framing
editing
performance

Representations and
Stereotypes
Character Analysis: It’s important
that you are able to analyse the
representation of key characters is
the film. For revision purposes let’s
stick with Tsotsi.
In stories it is often suggested that something significant happens that change
things for the hero forever – initiating subsequent developments. The most
obvious such ‘agent’ in Tsotsi’s story is the baby but perhaps there are some
other more crucial moments in his story that were just as pivotal: as life-chang

Tsotsi
What did
you think of
Tsotsi
during the
opening of
the film?
Initial
thought
s
How does his name
and initial actions
Tsotsi
in the
film
Use textual
analysis to
discuss the
scene
mise-en-scene
performance
camerawork
framing
editing
sound

How far does Tsotsi change
over the course of the film?
15
Describe Tsotsi
at the
beginning of
the film
Describe
Tsotsi at the
end of the
film
Describe some
events that may
have caused him
to change

How far does Tsotsi change
over the course of the film?
Consider the list of events below
and decide which you feel might
have been a major cause of later
change. Can you suggest some
other events in the film and why
they are significant for the
development of the story.
1. Totsi stealing the baby.
2. The killing of the old man.
3. Boston’s self-disgust and his needling of Tsotsi leading to the fight.
4. The sight of Boston’s swollen, infected face.
5. The conversation with Morris – the crippled beggar, underneath the flyover.
6. The first rejection of Aap.
7. The second rejection of Aap – when they are in the hijacked car chopshop.
8. The dream of his mother.
9. Miriam and her home in the township. Her tale of her husband’s death
teaches Tsotsi something about his own crimes.
10. The memory of his father’s brutality triggered when visiting Miriam.
11. The burglary of the baby’s home and in particular time spent in the baby’s
bedroom.
12. Butcher’s discovery of the gun and threatening of John Dube – the father.

Tsotsi
What did
you think of
Tsotsi
during the
opening of
the film?
Initial
thought
s
How does his name
and initial actions
Tsotsi
in the
film
Use textual
analysis to
discuss the
scene
mise-en-scene
performance
camerawork
framing
editing
sound
How
Tsotsi
changes &
why

To begin the lesson:
Write their names
down next to their
faces on your
character sheet.
Can you name the
characters in the
film Tsotsi?

What do you know about
Tsotsi?
43
Tsotsi is an extraordinary film by director Gavin Hood that manages
to map some of the huge contrasts in modern South Africa - its
affluence and grinding poverty, its haves and have-nots, its energy
and optimism alongside the disease, addiction and crime that
blights so many lives.
Hood’s film is an updated adaptation of a 1960s novella by
eminent South African playwright Athol Fugard, in which the
protagonist’s first-person account gives the reader insights
into the Tsotsi’s origins and motivations. At a time when so
many in South Africa live in fear of random-seeming violence
inflicted by so called ‘feral’ young people, this film is a
compelling attempt to delve beneath the statistics of modern-
day crime – to put an unsentimental but human face on
actions that otherwise might seem utterly inexplicable and
monstrous.
Tsotsi as a film encourages empathy and develops your understanding of contemporary
global issues – the disparities between wealth and poverty and the implications for society
when so many are robbed of their childhoods. It is a film about chance, about opportunity
and choice.
THEMES?
MESSAGES?
REPRESENTATIONS?
BASED ON REALITY?

What do you know about
South Africa?
44
• Over half the population lives below the poverty line – many on
just a $1 a day.
• A quarter of the population is unemployed.
• More than a fifth (21%) of the adult population is infected with
HIV/Aids and thousands of children grow up orphaned due to the
premature deaths of their parents.
• Despite a rapid house-building programme over the last decade it
still has many of its people living in shantytowns and squatter
camps in shelters constructed from scavenged scrap.
• Violent crime, though falling, still costs the lives of over 20,000
people a year - and armed-robbery, car-jacking, rape and
aggravated burglary are the stuff of everyday anecdote.
Some or all of these are the painful legacies of
50 years of racism, discrimination and neglect
and also of the miseries in many other parts of
Africa - that make South Africa an incredible
melting-pot of nationalities and cultures.

South Africa &
Tsotsi
Poverty
Key
influence
s
South Africa

How does the film Tsotsi
represent South Africa?
What impression of the country do you receive and what clues are there in it about the lives of
ordinary people living there?
The evidence of
poverty and affluence
– consider the logo on
Pumla Dube’s shopping
bag that Tsotsi steals to
carry the baby off in –
‘Expect More’.
The evidence of pollution
The evidence that South
Africa’s capital
Johannesburg and its
townships are lively,
energetic, bustling places.
The prominence of crime and
violence and the response of the
police to
crime and criminals – however
young.
The evidence of disease –
particularly HIV/Aids (clue: look
out for posters and also
Tsotsi’s flashback memories of
his mother)
Evidence of mixed
communities or highly
segregated
communities
(apart from the one
white policeman – why
is there so little
evidence of white
people in this film –
crossing Tsotsi’s path?)
The evidence of strong
cultural/artistic forces at work
in the townships
(clue: consider the language,
music and even the colourful
fabrics and hanging glass
and metal mobiles that
Miriam produces in her
home to
help make ends meet.)

South Africa &
Tsotsi
Poverty
Key
influence
s
South Africa
Culture:
music, art,
fashion

Representations
50
SOCIAL CLASS
Choose a key
sequence and
explore how one
of the following is
represented in it
Remember representation is construction

South Africa &
Tsotsi
Poverty
Key
influence
s
South Africa
Culture:
music, art,
fashion
Police and
criminals

Settings and locations in Tsotsi
53
Name a setting in
the film
Describe what it
looks like
What does the
setting suggest to
audiences?
How
does one
of the
settings
relate to
the
theme or
issue you
discusse
d?

South Africa &
Tsotsi
Poverty
Key
influence
s
South Africa
Culture:
music, art,
fashion
Settings and
locations
Police and
criminals
How do they
relate to the
issues in the
film? Link to
representatio
n, themes
and issues.

Themes and issues
65
Describe
what the film
says about a
theme or
issue
How is
the film of
issue
explored
in a key
sequence
?

South Africa &
Tsotsi
Poverty
Key
influence
s
South Africa
Culture:
music, art,
fashion
Settings
&
locations
Police and
criminals
How do they
relate to the
issues in the
film? Link to
representatio
n, themes
and issues.
Themes
&
issues

Write down 3 facts about
each character in Tsotsi.
These could be facts
about what they do in the
film or facts about what
they are like as people.

Tsotsi – the closing scene
Were you happy with the
ending of the film?
What is the message at
the end?
What do you think will
happen to Tsotsi?
How would you have
ended the film?
80

Micro Features and their effect
Technique Example Effect
Cinematography, costume and music Warm golden colours used to show
shanty town (aided by brightly
coloured African clothing worn,
upbeat Kwaito music played)
Shows that although it is poor it is
also a vibrant, colourful place that the
characters call ‘home’. (However at
night it becomes more sinister.)
Camera shots:
High Angle and Wide Shot and/or
Crane shots
Often used to show the shantytown
where Tsotsi lives – rows of makeshift
houses and when policemen find
Tsotsi’s abandons the car on highway.
Emphasises the size of the slum. It is
sprawling – we see the magnitude of
poverty. His story is just one of many.
It also makes it hard for the police to
find criminals – they become invisible
in the masses.
Camera shots:
Film uses a lot of
Wide Shots held for a long time
(alternated with Close Ups to show
Tsotsi’s face)
Tsotsi walking on tracks,
Tsotsi and gang melting into the
crowd in the railway station,
The pipes in the flashback
Tsotsi under bridge with Morris, etc
Two things:
1. Seems stage like – Tsotsi is a
character in morality play – he
has to go through certain
episodes and learn and grow.
2. Shows how the characters lives
are intertwined with their setting
– eg Tsotsi’s life would be
different if he did not grow up
poor/orphaned by AIDS/ in
Soweto’s township
81

Mise-en-scene Tsotsi’s corrugated iron hut is stacked
with stolen audio-visual equipment
Setting reveals character’s history –
life of crime but also practice in
townships of ‘making do’- Illegal
connection to mains power when he
puts on music.
Contrast in lighting Warm, earthy colours used for
township v. cool, sterile lighting used
to show train station, hospital
Emphasises the difference in the ‘two
worlds’ in South Africa. We see the
gap between rich and poor more
clearly. The new black middle class
(John and Pumla) have access to
electricity, clean surroundings,
modern amenities. Poor must make
do with dirt floors, no running water.
Contrast in Mise-en-scene Water pump, use of wooden boxes as
makeshift furniture, houses made
from scrap timber in the shanty town.
This contrasts with a high-tech
security system, high iron gates,
spacious modern home with luxurious
furnishings.
Same as above
82

Mise-en-scene Colourful pastel mural of African
plains with animals in baby’s room
Shows the ‘myth’ of South Africa that
foreigners come to see - the
savannah, the wildlife. The reality
that people want to ignore is the
poverty.
Music / Soundtrack Booming Kwaito music (modern
South African music with hip-hop
beat, strong bass line and spoken
lyrics) used when Tsotsi and his gang
walk through township and in Soekie’s
bar where the boys fight.
Creates mood – suggests their tough
natures. Music brings to mind US
gangster rap – we think youth gangs,
crime, feeling angry / estranged from
society, violence.
Sound effects Use of ‘snake rattle’ sound effect
when Tsotsi is following Morris and
Miriam
Creates sense of fear and suspense.
Highlights the sense of J’burg as
dangerous/crime-ridden. Audience
fears for the ‘victim’ – suggests
predator is stalking his prey.
83

Creative response to Tsotsi
In the exam the last
question will allow you to
show your knowledge and
understanding of the ways
in which Tsotsi
communicates all the
issues and ideas that you
have explored and
discussed in class, in a
creative way. You may be
asked to:
Write a review for a
specific target audience
Create a poster
Design a webpage
Produce a blog
Whatever task you are
given, it is important that
you include a consideration
of performance, issues and
themes, people and places
and combine these with
your personal response to
the film.
84

Paper 2: Exploring Film
Outside Hollywood
1. (a) Name and briefly describe the main character from your
close study film.
(2)
(b) Say why you think this character is the main character. (3)
( c ) Choose another character who is in conflict with the main
character. How does the film show this conflict? (5)
Total=10 Marks85

Outside Hollywood
close study film.
(2)
Total=10 Marks86
Make sure you spell
their name correctly!
Briefly describe who the
character is – including
personality and
appearance.

Outside Hollywood
close study film.
(2)
Total=10 Marks87
Is it their story? How do
they drive the story? Do
they raise any
important issues or
themes?

Outside Hollywood
close study film.
(2)
Total=10 Marks88
For this you will need to
use film language as
well as dialogue and
representation.
Make sure you name
them correctly,
including spellings.
Think carefully about
the kinds of conflict
involved in your film.
Choose a character you
know well who suits the
question.
How are the differences
or oppositions shown in
the film?

Outside Hollywood
2 (a) Identify one key theme or issue your chosen film raises. (2)
(b) Briefly summarise what the film suggests about the theme or issue.
(6)
( c ) Choose one important sequence from your close study film. Explore how the
film represents its key theme or issue. (12)
In your answer you may wish to refer to the role of one or two of the following:
Mise-en-scene
Camera shots and movement
Editing
Sound
89
Total=20 Marks

Outside Hollywood
(6)
Mise-en-scene
Editing
Sound
90
Total=20 Marks
Think carefully before you choose
your theme or issue; make sure
that it is one that you can write
about in detail.

Outside Hollywood
(6)
Mise-en-scene
Editing
Sound
91
Total=20 Marks
Remember that your film may have
explored a theme or issue in
several ways and that different
audiences may respond differently
to these.

Outside Hollywood
3. Write either a blog entry or an internet film review focusing on
why you think people should go and see your close study film.
Include some of the following:
Camera work or visual style.
Music or or sound.
Performances or characters.
How it compares with other films you have seen.
Any other aspects that you found interesting.
92
Total=20 Marks

Outside Hollywood
3. Write either a blog entry or an internet film review focusing on
why you think people should go and see your close study film.
Include some of the following:
Camera work or visual style.
Music or or sound.
Performances or characters.
How it compares with other films you have seen.
Any other aspects that you found interesting.
93
Total=20 Marks
How to start:
In this blog post I will…
I recently saw the South African film Tsotsi
and…
On my blog today I want to tell you
about…

Outside Hollywood
Question 3 will always be a creative response. This means
that you will have to create something and be expected to
use your film for the answer.
This creative response is likely to be a written one, unlike
the response on paper 1.
In previous years the creative response has been to write a
blog, an internet review, an article for a school magazine, a
review for a newspaper and a feature to be read out on
radio.
94
Total=20 Marks

Paper 2: Exploring Film Outside Hollywood
Format
Important, but not crucial. You are being marked on the content, NOT how it
looks, but a newspaper review will
Layout
Potentially quite important, but again, not crucial. You may want to include the
name of the person speaking when writing a ‘script’ for example, or add in a
space where a clip from the film could be played.
Audience
Vital. Firstly look carefully at what you are being asked to write and decide who
would read/watch/listen. Then you can begin to plan and think carefully about
the sort of language you might use. For example, a newspaper article would be
much more formal and go into a lot more detail than a blog post or feature for
school magazine.
Purpose
Crucial. What are you being asked to write? Why are you being asked to write
it? To entertain? To inform? To convince? Your language and content will depend
on your purpose. Make sure that you know what this is before you start writing.95

Paper 2: Films outside
Hollywood
Context is key-the paper is about non-US film and you’ll
need to explain why that’s important for your film-it’s set in
South Africa and this is important.
Basic information is important-Showing an
understanding of South Africa will show that you know the
text and why it’s important. Also allows you to provide
background to the film in your creative question.
Detailed information is useful-you can drop this into the
last question and could allow you to show off and
differentiate yourself from other candidates.

Hollywood
Know your themes-You need to be able to explain what
themes are in the film and be able to write about one if it
comes up on the exam paper. Don’t know what themes
are in Tsotsi? REVISE! Use the sheet from last week!
Always write a technical analysis-If something is good
or bad, explain why with technical information. This is a
film studies exam, show that you know about film.
Don’t simple retell information-yes, you need to show
that you know about Tsotsi, but don’t simply retell the
story. Explain your feelings, ideas and the film way that
the film deals with these.

Hollywood
Character analysis-look at what you’re being asked and
show off with it the question. You have (probably) already
been asked about a character, write about another if you
can. This is a review, who was your favourite character?
Why? (remember, not just a retelling, explain your opinion)
Be personal-this is your chance to explain YOUR opinion.
There is no right and wrong here, just a chance for your to
explain what you feel about the film. The key thing is
WHY. Show off, display your knowledge, explain that your
opinion is ‘correct’ because you can link it to the technical
analysis that you can do.

Plan a creative response to Tsotsi
Write a review for a specific target audience
Plan an outline for a review based on what you’ve discussed this
morning. Some pointers to use:
What would your introductory paragraph be about?
How can you then begin to get your opinion across?
Remember to get in those detailed points about the film.
Link the task to your own opinion and technical anaylsis.
What’s the best way to end a review?
100

Tsotsi revision - Exploring Films Outside Hollywood - Paper 2 GCSE Film Studies Revision

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