To have a successful film there needs to be at least one lovable character that the audience can love and relate to, but in the film Tsotsi it is more complicated. Directed by Gavin Hood, the film features many different characters with different personalities, some lovable and some not so lovable. Through a wide range of visual and verbal techniques Hood develops these characters. When the audience is first introduced to Tsotsi in the exposition until he returns little David to his real parents in the epilogue, Tsotsi changes from an unlovable, crime-filled character at the beginning to a sympathetic, revamped character. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In the exposition of Tsotsi Hood uses many different techniques to help develop the character of Tsotsi. The audience learns that Tsotsi lives in a small town in Soweto, an outcast from society. He is uneducated and relies on his gang members to kill and rob Johannesburg's rich people. This development was shown through the use of cinematic and dialogue techniques. For example, a wide-angle shot from above was used after a close-up of Tsotsi pulling his finger to show the setting of Soweto, a small town in South Africa. The shot shows the full expanse of Soweto as the town stretches into the distance and the large power lines running through the town but not connecting. This wide shot was important because it set the scene for the audience, showing the full expanse of Soweto and the large amount of people living like Tsotsi, without electricity and marginalized by society. At the same time we hear loud Kwaito music, shouts and loud noises from the people living in Soweto. The loud noises from people show that the township is very noisy and busy with people going about their day. Through these techniques, the public is made aware of the situation in which many people live in the townships of South Africa. Townships do not have access to the same resources that many people take for granted such as family, electricity, education and, consequently, a successful job or benefits. People in these townships have to survive based on their knowledge of theft and motivation to survive. Tsotsi was raised to be a killer and a thief to survive. In the director's note "In the eyes of Tsotsi, we should ultimately see ourselves." That means Hood wants to get up and talk in a personal way with someone we wouldn't normally have anything to do with. Also, Tsosti may not seem very friendly or lovable at first, by being up close and knowing the story of Tsotsi's past we can somehow relate and understand why Tsotsi behaves this way and thus becomes a more friendly and lovable person to our eyes, even if he still makes bad decisions. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay It is clear, then, that the production techniques used by Gavin Hood were used primarily to develop Tsotsi as a character on the fringes of society, one of those we fear. The use of dialogue, cinematography, and character actions in the mise-en-scène help portray him as a character who has difficulty deciding what is right and what is wrong. Without these techniques, the public would not be as aware of the problems faced by many young people in these types of townships across South Africa and the struggle they face to make their way in the world. To be successful, a text.
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