On the crime ridden streets of Johannesburg, Tsotsi's life has no meaning beyond survival. One night, in desperation, he murders a woman and steals her car, only to find her baby on the back seat. Unsure of what to do, he takes the child home and tries to care for it. In one moment his life takes a sharp turn and leads him down an unexpected path to redemption.
This Oscar winning film is an extraordinary portrait of the choices that are made in life and how compassion can endure in the human heart.


Gavin Hood. UK/South Africa. 2005.
94 mins. Zulu/Xhosa/ Afrikaans with English Subtitles.

Written and Directed by
GAVIN HOOD

Produced by
PETER FUDAKOWSKI

Based on the novel "Tsotsi" by
ATHOL FUGARD

Co-Produced by
PAUL RALEIGH

Executive Producers
SAM BHEMBE, ROBBIE LITTLE, DOUG MANKOFF, BASIL FORD, JOSEPH D'MORAIS, ALAN HOWDEN, RUPERT LYWOOD

Associate Producers
JANINE ESER, HENRIETTA FUDAKOWSKI

Casting Director
MOONYEENN LEE

Director of Photography
LANCE GEWER

Production Designer
EMELIA WEAVIND

Art Director
MARK WALKER

Costume Designers
NADIA KRUGER, PIERRE VIENINGS

Key Make-up & Hair
TANIA BROOKE

Sound Mixer
SHAUN MURDOCH

Original Score
MARK KILIAN, PAUL HEPKER

Featuring the voice of
VUSI MAHLASELA

Edited by
MEGAN GILL

1st Assistant Director
RICHARD KELLOND

Line Producer
GAVIN JOUBERT

CAST
Tsotsi > PRESLEY CHWENEYAGAE
Miriam > TERRY PHETO
Aap > KENNETH NKOSI
Boston > MOTHUSI MAGANO
Butcher > ZENZO NGQOBE
Fela Ndlovu > ZOLA
John > RAPULANA SEIPHEMO
Pumla > NAMBITHA MPUMLWANA
The Baby > NONTHUTHU SIBISI (NTHUTHUKO SIBISI)
Morris > JERRY MOFOKENG
Captain Smit > IAN ROBERTS
Inspector Zuma > PERCY MATSEMELA
Soekie > THEMBI NYANDENI
Gumboot > OWEN SEJAKE
Tsotsi's Father > ISRAEL MAKOE
Tsotsi's Mother > SINDI KHAMBULE
Young Tsotsi > BENNY MOSHE
Newspaper Vendor > BHEKI VILAKAZI
Young Cop > CRAIG PALM
Old Man at the tap > JEREMIAH NDLOVU
Young Aap > SIBUSISO MKIZE
Miriam's Baby > LINDOKUHLE TLOUBATLA
Children at Pipes
Older Kid with knife > SAMUEL TSEBE
Little Boy > KATLEGO MARIBUNE
Little Girls > TUMI SEJAKE, JUWARRIYAH NKOPANE
Policemen > LENNOX MATHABATHE, EDUAN VAN JAARSVELDT
Identi-kit Officer > BRIAN ROLFE
Fela's Girl > MBALI KHUMALO
Fela's Gang > JOYCE MOSHOESHOE, MOSES TIMATI, ENOCH TSOTETSI, EDWARD OLIPHANT, CAPHEUS MANAMELA, ISHMAEL SONGO
Fela's Driver > MARVEN LEKOPOTSA

CREW
Script Editors JANINE ESER, HENRIETTA FUDAKOWSKI
Casting Associate MAVIS KHANYE
Production Manager CANDICE TENNANT
Production Co-ordinator MONICA KEYS
Assistant Production Co-ordinator LAUREN VAN RENSBURG

Production Accountant LAURA VOGT
Accounts Assistant MICHELLE MORGAN

Script Supervisor MAUREEN CONWAY
Additional Continuity WIEBINA BERRINGTON
Script Translation BRIAN LETLHABANE

Camera Operator MARC BROWER
Focus Puller PAM LAXEN
Clapper Loader JASON MUSGRAVE
Steadicam Operator DEON VERMEULEN
Stills Photographer KARIN ALSBIRK
VT Operator GARETH PENBERTHY
Camera Truck Driver SYDNEY DLAMINI
Additional Camera Operator CARLOS CARVALHO
Additional Steadicam Operator SAREL PRETORIUS
Additional Focus Pullers ANTON WEHMEYER, MARK COOKSEY, GEORGE LOXTON
Additional Clapper Loader JUSTIN McGILLIVRAY
Additional VT Operator JIMMY UMBA DI UMBA
Boom Operator JOEL KAPEND' A KAPEND
Gaffer OLIVER WILTER
Best Boy Lights SIMON CAVE
Sparks HANNES ERLANK, PATRICK BOTHA
Spark/Driver TYRON MOUNTJOY
Generator Operator TONY RHODE
Additional Sparks ANDREW MACCALLUM, TEBOGO MATSEBE, WELLINGTON MASHABA, MARK SHERMAN, LINDA MABASO, LUCAS MOGANEDI, ABLE NYAMAKAZI, EDMUND NYAMAKAZI, CASPER MAMETSI, DALLAS NKALA
Additional Generator Operators MARCUS NEPHUMBADA, PHILLEMON RALIPHADA, GILBERT PHIRI, ABE POSWA

Key Grip ARI STAVRINOS
Best Boy ALPHEUS MANAKA
Grip Assistant VICTOR MOGALE
Grip Assistant/Driver MARIUS SWART

2nd Assistant Director DYLAN SPEER
2nd Assistant Director PHILLIP MOSOEU
Production Assistant JOSEPH MALELE
Additional Production Assistants PETER MODISE, FRANCE MAHLALELA
Assistants to Mr Fudakowski TOM WINCHESTER, SIPHIWE MABUZA
Assistant to Mr Hood BRIAN LETLHABANE
Set Decorator NHLANHLA BHENGU
Art Department Co-ordinator EMILY SLOAN
Leadman JUSTICE NHLAPO
Set Dresser GREGORY SEDIBE (HANSIE)
Standby Set Dresser VUSI TSHABALALA
Swing Gang > LLOYD MSIMANGA, PETER MAHLANGU, LAURENCE MOERAKA
Props Master JAMES TAYLOR
Props Buyer SHEONA MITCHLEY
Standby Props BOBBY CARDOSO
Assistant Standby Props DAVID MOHAPI
Props Truck Driver BAFANA NKOSI
Additional Art Department Runner MARLON MACKS
Construction Foremen FRANCIS GREWE, RAYMOND MULLER
Carpenters JULIAN VON BUCHENRODER, SHAUN-MARLON NASSON
Construction AARON MOGOASA, SIMON POTSAME
Plasterer ISAAC NDLOVU
Bricklayer JOSEPH MOSIKWA
Construction Buyer HECTOR SIBANYONI
Additional Construction Crew BENNETT MOGOBILHA, WILLIAM MBIPHA, DUMISANI MDLULI
Fabricator FRIDAY NGWENYA
Plasterer EDWARD SEJAKE
Bricklayers MDLULI MATHEWS, DAVID MDLULU
Construction Truck Driver DIVI ALFRED MKWANAZI
Scenic Artist MIKE HYMAN
Assistant Scenic Artists SIPHO SIFINIZA, RAYNUS MULLER
Graffiti Artists LUKE SEARLE, CHARLES KEYLOCK
Wardrobe Mistress GILLIAN CASTLE
Standby Wardrobe ANDREE DU PREEZ
Wardrobe Assistant PENZIE MIYA
Wardrobe Laundry PAULA MORUDU
Wardrobe Truck Driver HENDRIK SEBULELA

Assistant Make-up/Hair SHIRALEE MACLACHLAN
Prosthetics GRAHAM PRESS
Prosthetics Assistant JACO SNYMAN

Location Manager JACO ESPACH
Unit Manager DAREN STILWELL
Unit Assistants TERRY STEVENS
GEORGE RANDALL
Unit Truck Driver ALBERT SANDANI
Driver's Combi JOSEPH DLEPHU
Cast Drivers JUSTICE NTOMBELA (BHEKI), LAWRENCE NTIMBANE
Base Camp Assistants STEPHEN MARUPING, FIKILE RAMATLADI
Additional Unit Assistants WESLEY RALEIGH, CLIVE THRING, BRUCE PURNELL
Stunt & SFX Co-Coordinator CORDELL MC QUEEN
SFX Foreman GAVIN DULLISEAR
SFX Assistants MARK OSTENDORF, PETE SPIRO
Stunt Players WAYNE SMITH, VADIM DOBRIN, KERRY GREGG
Precision Driver GARY FORMATO
Armourer PETE SMITH
Child Minder MAVIS KHANYE
Medic JACQUES SWART
Additional Medic LIEB SWART
Extras Casting BEE QUEUE EXTRAS CASTING, DJ'S, PAT'S PROMOTIONS
Animal Wranglers GARIN VAN MUNSTER, JULIE BEZUIDENHOUT
Unit Publicist DAVID WILSON
EPK > DINO PAPAYANNIS, DARK MOON PRODUCTIONS
Catering and Craft Services STATUS CATERERS, DAN TESNER
Factory Manager RENIER BASSON
General Manager DANIEL OBRIST
Team Leader RALPH VAN VUUREN
Craft JOHN CHIUNGWE, LUYANDA SIBEKO
Staff STEPHEN NQUMZA, LOPANG MOLASEDI

POST PRODUCTION CREW
1st Assistant Editor PRAVASHANEE REDDY
2nd Assistant Editor CASSIOUS MUNYAI
Supervising Sound Editor JULI VANDENBERG (SAGE)
Dialogue Editor CHARLOTTE BUYS
ADR Editor ELINOR HARDY

Post Production Manager NERISSA BLACK
Post Production Co-ordinators LOUISE MYCIELSKI, CARINA STEYL
Negative Processing THE FILM LAB
Dailies Transfers THE VIDEO LAB
Telecine Dailies WIGGIE ELLENBERGER
Off-Line Facilities ZSE TV

Digital Intermediate by THE VIDEO LAB (SA)
Digital Imaging/VFX Producer TRACEY WILLIAMS
Digital Post Co-ordinator DESMOND ALLAN
Lustre Colourist BRETT MANSON
Spirit Datacine Scanner GREG KIRBY
Scanning QC Engineer AXEL KOMPAT
Opening Credits Design CYRIL SCHUMANN, LEILA WREYFORD
Visual Effects Compositing CYRIL SCHUMANN, EDDIE ADDINALL, TALLEN CHOW
3D Animation ISAAC LIU, DOMINIKA MARCISZ
Inferno Sub-titling/HD mastering EDDIE ADDINALL
Lustre Editor/dust-busting JASON BASSON
Systems Engineer GERHARD ROETS
Film Recording KODAK LIGHTNING 11 LASER RECORDER
Film Recording Engineers GERHARD ROETS, GERHARD KRIEL
PAL Mastering Supervision JOHN BRINK
Sound Post Production CHRIS FELLOWS SOUND STUDIOS
Re-recording Engineer JEREMY SAACKS
Technical Engineer ANDRE JOURDAN
ADR Engineer JIM PETRAK
Foleys Artist JULIETTE PHILLIPS
Foley Engineer AKBAR GOOLAM
Optical Sound Negative CHRIS FELLOWS SOUND STUDIOS

Film Post THE FILM LAB (SA)
Grader PAUL PHAHLANE
Film Lab Co-ordinator LAUREN BOND

Legal Services provided by HAKAN KOUSETTA of HOWARD KENNEDY SOLICITORS, LONDON
Website developed by ROMAN MARSZALEK of DOCTOR LOGIC, LONDON

MUSIC
Featured vocalists VUSI MAHLASELA, KHANYO MAPHUMULO
Percussion BARRY VAN ZYL
Viola BRENDAN JURY

Choir
KHANYO MAPHUMULO
PHINDA MTYA MATLALA
THOFO GOGE
PHUTHUMA TISO
SIPHO MBELE
BONGANI MASUKU
LINDA GCWENSA
INNOCENT MODIBA

Choir contracted by SIPHO MBELE
Additional Vocals NICK HEATON
Custom percussion supplied by ANDRIES BRUYNS, FRANS KILIAN
Score recorded by NICK HEATON

Score recorded at
RHYTHM NATION STUDIOS,
Johannesburg, South Africa
Score mixed by CASEY STONE, STEVE KAPLAN

Score mixed at GRAVY STREET, Venice, California
Music consulatant LANCE STEHRE, GHETTORUFF, SA

MDLWEMBE
Performed by Zola, Music by Zola / Kaybee
Produced by Kaybee
Licensed from Ghetto Ruff Publishing

EHLALE E ZOLA
Performed by Zola
Composed by Thabiso Tsotetsi / Bonginkosi Dlamini / Zola
Licensed from Guluva Publishing / Ghetto Ruff Publishing

WOOF WOOF
Performed by Zola, Music by Zola / Kaybee
Produced by Kaybee, Licensed from Ghetto Ruff Publishing

SILANG MABELE
Composed and Performed by Vusi Mahlasela
Vusi Muzi Music c/o BMG Africa Music Publishing
Vusi Mahlasela appears courtesy of Song BMG Music Entertainment Africa

MUNT'OMNYAMA
Performed by Mafikizolo
Composed by M. Mofokeng / O. Mdlongwa / B. Sebitlo /
T. Seate / T. Kgosinkwe / A. Muphemi
Licensed from Sony Music Entertainment South Africa

BENONI BLUES
Performed by paw'lee'n sparx
Composed by Mark Kilian and Paul Hepker
Licensed from Gravu Street Music / Kekila Music

SEVEN
Performed by Zola, Music by Zola / Kaybee
Produced by Kaybee, Licensed from Ghetto Ruff Publishing

ZINGU 7
Performed by Zola
Composed by Kabelo "Kaybee" Ikaneng / Bonginkosi Dlamini
Licensed from Guluva Publishing / Ghetto Ruff Publishing

PALESA
Performed by Zola
Composed by Thabiso Tsotesi / Bonginkosi Dlamini
Licensed from Guluva Publishing / Ghetto Ruff Publishing

BHAMBATHA
Performed by Zola
Composed by Thabiso Tsotesi / Bonginkosi Dlamini
Licensed from Ghetto Ruff Publishing

IT'S YOUR LIFE
Performed by Zola
Composed by Thabiso Tsotesi / Bonginkosi Dlamini
Licensed from Guluva Publishing / Ghetto Ruff Publishing

Camera/Lighting/Grips Equipment by MCC LOGICAL DESIGNS
Film Stock supplied by KODAK
Animal Anti-Cruelty League Inspector On-Set GRANT HOPLEY
Completion Bond ENTERTAINMENT GUARANTORS
Insurance Brokers CGM INSURANCE BROKERS, HANLIE CARSTENS
Freight Agents FILM FREIGHT
Security FINGWA SECURITY SERVICE
Travel Agent SEA-JAY TRAVEL
Vehicles Supplied by U-DRIVE CAR RENTAL, TEMPEST CAR HIRE, KEMPSTON TRUCK HIRE, IMPERIAL TRUCK HIRE, SUPER RENT, KEMPTON CARAVAN

SPECIAL THANKS TO
ADT Security, Altech Card Solutions, Baby & Co. (Pty) Ltd., City Of Johannesburg, Daily Sun, Ghetto Ruff, Global Access, Graham Beck Wines, Impact Medical Services, Intersite, Jabu Stone Hair Salons, Johannesburg General Hospital, Johannesburg Metro Police, Metrorail (Wits), Motorola, Nokia, Ola Ice Creams, Paul Mitchell Hair Products, Respiratory Care Africa, Saicom, Skin Infusia, Sondor, South African Police Service, Captain Ina Middel, Captain Melissa Pretorius, Tabaccozone, Takies Biltong, The Gauteng Film Office, Theresa Van Der Merwe

THE FILM MAKERS WISH TO ESPECIALLY THANK
Adam & Kasia Fudakowski, Albert Van Rensburg, Alice Hutton, Andy Spaulding, Beth B, Bill Johnston, Caroline Clasen, Charles Oliver Cooper, Clive Parsons, Colin Luke, The Cookie Crew, Daniel & Nancy Weinzweig, David Royds, David Selvan, Davina Belling, Ellen Little, Frank Gannon, Fr Mark Barrett, Gary Cloete, Gina Bonmariage, Gordon and Diana Hood, Hakan Kousetta, Helen Kuun, Jim Charne, John Kani, Judith James, Julitta & Dominic Ward, Lance McCormack, Lance Stehr, Lara Hood, Laurie Hutzler, Lee de Montagnac, Luke Randolf, Matt Davis, Marek Zebrowski, Michael Sugar, Roman Marszalek, Samuel Liff, Sandra Schulberg, Simon and Lynsey Jones, Sophia Phirippides, Stas Syrewicz, Stefano Fraquelli, Stephen & Linda Bayly, Thomas Hall, Vivian Bickford Smith, Zama Mkosi, The Trinity College Film Society, Cambridge University, The Magdalene College Film Society, Oxford University.

Shot on location in Soweto and Johannesburg