Year 13 Alternativ English
Unit Standard 12431/3: Read closely and evaluate the effectiveness of moving images
Tsotsi
Assessment schedule and judgment statements
This activity assesses one of the two texts required by the range statement.
Question
1
Element
1.1
Evidence
Judgement
[the answers or performance expected from the
students]
[A statement that
defines the standard
to be achieved]
ONE idea is analysed
with a specific
relevant reference to
visual or verbal
examples from two
sections of the text.
e.g. Decency idea
In this scene we see Tsotsi terrorise the old man.
He follows him until he is alone, then interrogates
him. Tsotsi is wearing [mise-en-scene] a costume
of dark leather and rough shoes example. These
dark clothes are so he can slink around unnoticed
so as to commit crimes more easily. The dark
clothes also symbolise Tsotsi’s pent up emotion
which has led to his darkness – his lack of decency
- as a person. In this scene we see him develop as
a character. Dialogue shows him taunting the old
man after he realises he is even worse off than
himself: ‘Why do you go on when you live like a
dog’. The old man responds with, ‘I like to feels the
heat, even with these hands’ example. Tsotsi takes
his response seriously and we see a big change in
his actions [mise-en-scene]. He gets down on one
knee to the same level as the old man,
communicating for the first time that he is an equal.
He feels pity for him, telling him to collect the money
he had thrown on the ground. This act of kindness
is in contrast with the beginning of the film, when
Tsotsi killed an old man on the train, showing little
emotion, let alone remorse. This pity shows us that
Tsotsi is showing empathy and making a change to
a more decent human being analysis of idea.
e.g. Being a human idea
Tsotsi in this film sequence never truly meant to rob
this man. He simply wanted to discover why this
man went on living ‘like a dog’ example. The man
replies that ‘even with these hands, he enjoys the
warmth of the sun’. The cripple is never prepared to
give up his life, even if it meant experiencing
hardships and living like a dog by begging. The
narrative helps develop this idea by showing Tsotsi
not just as a ruthless killer, but as a misguided youth
who is now able to think outside the box he has
been entrapped in because of his childhood. By the
end of the sequence, he has come to accept that
people have their own reasons for why they enjoy
life, even if they are confined to a wheelchair and
forced to beg. At the beginning of the scene, the
look in Tsotsi’s eyes is not anger, but disgust at how
this ‘dog’ could go on living example. At the end,
spiritual music is played as Tsoti walks away from
the city and down the train track. He is wrapped up
in his own world pondering what it is to be human.
Once he had spoken to the old cripple. He realised
that the man was human as deserved to be treated
with respect and dignity analysis of idea.
2 and 3
1.2
e.g. The impact of circumstances on who you are
idea
The impact of circumstances greatly affects who
you are. We see this with Tsotsi’s friends, who
stand out in the crowd of people who are bustling
about. They, on the other hand, simply stand there
waiting for Tsotsi to arrive at the station. The
circumstances Tsotsi has grown up in have made
him an angry person, just as the circumstances the
crippled man has been forced to live in after his
mining accident have made him an angry person.
This is seen in the aggressive dialogue, ‘Where did
you get that license? Your mum teach you to
drive?’ and ‘Watch where you are going, dog!’
example Tsotsi’s anger is portrayed when he sets
out to get revenge on the cripple, who has offended
him by cursing at him and calling him a dog. Any
normal person would have left the cripple alone, but
Tsotsi’s upbringing [the lack of love and need to
survive through violence] has meant that he reacts
negatively to him, threatening him with violence
example. Towards the end of the film, Tsotsi is
delivered from crime through the experience he has
with the baby he kidnaps. He is no longer angry
and is more respectful as a result. Being brought up
in the poor conditions he has left Tsotsi with the
need to be tough and commit crime to survive
analysis of idea.
e.g. physical context
The fact that the old man has been crippled has left
him an angry man, most probably because he has
been treated differently idea. His physical disability
means he doesn’t get the respect he would have
received if he could walk. His survival is determined
by his ability to stand up for himself, and this is done
through aggression analysis of idea. Evidence of
him being angry is when he first addressed Tsotsi:
‘Watch where you are going, dog!’ example and
when he spits on Tsotsi example. Another example
of this aggression is when he curses the driver of a
car that nearly knocks him over. He is aggressive
because this is not the first time it has happened.
e.g. social context
The old beggar hangs around Johannesburg
station. He is aware to the trouble that goes on in
South Africa. He is black and crippled and has
experienced a lot in his life idea. We see this
where, after Tsotsi walks over, he says, ‘Hey, look
where you are fucking going!’ example This shows
that life as a crippled black man is harsh and has
made him the aggressive man he is today analysis
of idea. We also see this when he automatically
thinks Tsotsi is there to mug him: ‘Do you want my
money?’ example This shows that he expects this
to happen, which shows how difficult life is for poor
blacks in South Africa analysis of idea.
Significance of ONE
idea is critically
evaluated and
supported by
reference to TWO
relevant sections of
the text.
4
1.3
e.g. historical context
The old man would have lived through Apartheid
and was exploited as cheap labour, working in the
mines where he would have almost never seen the
sun. When his back was broken in a mining
accident, he was unable to work again, but could
feel the sun on his skin, which for him was a mixed
blessing idea. An example of the historical context
impacting on the man is the [prop] of the wheelchair,
which is home-made and makeshift example.
Anther example is the fact he has been forced to
beg for survival example. These examples tell us
he has little support as a cripple, as he has had to
make it himself. We learn that the South African
government has not helped him, even though it was
a workplace accident analysis of idea.
e.g. lighting [visual]
At the end, as Tsotsi walks away, the old man’s
head is bathed in light example. The effect of the
technique is spiritual. The old man’s life has been
saved and in the process, he has helped Tsotsi
redeem himself effect. The technique is effective.
The shot is till and the light illuminates the old man,
giving a spiritual aspect to him and communicating
that good can come out of bad situations critical
evaluation of effect.
e.g mid-shot [visual]
A mid-shot of Tsotsi holding his gun and trash-can
lid as he guards against the rocks being thrown at
him. The old man weeps and asks if he is happy he
has made an old man ‘piss his pants’ example.
The effect of the technique is to show that Tsotsi is
human with human emotions. He shows remorse or
embarrassment at the fact he has had this effect on
the old man effect. This is effective as it shows he
is developing as a character and being to show
empathy for the first time critical evaluation of
effect.
e.g music [verbal]
When the old man is swearing at Tsotsi, the music
is dark and foreboding and it builds to a crescendo
as Tsotsi pulls out his gun example. The effect of
the technique is to heighten the mood of the scene
and sow tension between the two characters effect.
The technique is effective because it builds to a
crescendo which changes the mood of the scene
from hostile to fearful. Tsotsi now has control
critical evaluation of effect.
e.g. music [verbal]
After Tsotsi’s encounter with the old man, he walks
along the railway and the background music is calm,
gentle and remorseful example. The director’s
purpose to show Tsotsi changing and feeling guilty
about his actions effect. It is effective because it
contrasts with the beginning where Tsotsi was with
his friends and lacking in remorse for his actions.
This time, he didn’t kill, which shows change and
development as a character critical evaluation of
effect.
THREE examples of
language features
are accurately
identified using
appropriate
terminology. The
effect of each
example is critically
evaluated in terms of
its contribution to a
range of thematic
ideas or character
development.
Note: ONE verbal
feature and ONE
visual feature must
be included in the
examples.
5
a) and b)
1.4
e.g.
A long shot of Tsotsi walking up the train tracks with
the city behind him is combined with hopeful, calm,
traditional South African music [relationship
between visual and verbal feature]. The effect of
them being used together is to show Tsotsi is taking
his first steps towards becoming a better person.
The combination of these techniques is effective
because the shot of Tsotsi walking away from the
city symbolises Tsotsi walking away from the trouble
he has caused, as he would always go into the city
to commit the crimes. The music provides hope and
gives the viewer a sense that Tsotsi has learned a
valuable lesson from the old man and has now
made a small turn for the better [critical evaluation
of the effect].
TWO examples of the
relationship between
a visual and a verbal
feature are critically
evaluated in terms of
the effect each
creates.
e.g.
A close up of Tsotsi after he has been spat on by
the old man is combined with the sound effects of a
rattling sound – like a rattle snake [relationship
between visual and verbal feature]. The effect of
them being used together is to give the audience a
sense of how Tsotsi is disgusted and angered and
that his reaction will be dangerous for the old man.
The combination of these techniques is effective
because it creates tension, as the audience is
unsure whether Tsotsi is going to lash out at the
man or not. It creates a small fear for the audience
and reinforces that Tsotsi is dangerous [critical
evaluation of the effect].
e.g.
An establishing shot of the train station, with a
banner warning about AIDS and people walking in
different directions is combined with the dialogue of
many different voices and someone speaking over
the microphone announcing arrivals and departures
[relationship between visual and verbal feature].
The effect of the, being used together is to give the
sense of a big, industrial and busy space. The
combination of these techniques is effective
because it shows that the station is a place of
employment and less poverty and it contrasts with
the beginning, where everyone is hanging around
and doing nothing. It reinforces the economic gulf
between people in South Africa [critical evaluation
of the effect].
6 a) and/or
b) and/or
c)
1.5
e.g.
Technique #1: contrast in characterisation
In the exposition of the film, Tsotsi and his gang of
thugs are out in Johannesburg trying to find
someone to mug. They choose an old black man,
mug, and murder him in the train. In ‘Egoli, City of
Gold’, Tsotsi is alone with the old man. He looks
like he is about to mug and perhaps murder him, but
in the end, lets him go [example]. In the exposition,
Tsotsi’s only motive was to get something from the
man he mugs, but in the second scene, he is
interested in finding out why the old man lives like
he does. This contrast shows that Tsotsi is moving
TWO techniques
used to shape the
texts are identified
and critically
evaluated with
reference to TWO
sections of the text.
towards redemption as he is becoming more aware
of how others may feel and the impact of his
actions. He no longer wants to simply destroy, but
want to empathise with others [critical evaluation
of the effect].
e.g.
Technique #2: contrast in sound
In ‘Egoli, City of Gold’, Tsotsi speaks to the old man
first, and with malice. The music is dark, with drum
beats and rattling, creating tension. At the end of
the film, Tsotsi only speaks once, and it is into the
intercom a quiet and respectful tone. The music is
uplifting, traditional music to show Tsotsi’s
redemption [example]. This contrast
communicates that Tsotsi is no longer aggressively
in charge. He has changed the way he verbally
[and physically] interacts with others. The music at
the end communicates that Tsotsi has faced his
inner demons and is ready to pay the price for his
actions. The contrast is effective as it clearly
displays Tsotsi’s changing mood from aggressive
and dangerous to empathic and trying to do the right
thing for others [critical evaluation of the effect].
e.g.
Technique #3: contrast in setting
In Egoli, City of Gold’, the train station is crowded,
with people merging through each other. Aap and
Butcher find it difficult to spot Tsotsi. In the
exposition, Tsotsi’s house is cramped and
makeshift, made of tin and recycled materials and
furniture. This contrast communicates the inequity
of the spread of resources in South Africa – Soweto
is poor and lacks resources, while Johannesburg
has more infrastructure. It is effective, as it shows
one of the reasons why Tsotsi does what he does.
He needs to scrounge off the wealthy to survive the
poverty. It gives the viewer a greater understanding
of the circumstances he lives in [critical evaluation
of the effect].