Congratulations pour in for Tsotsi
6 March 2006
South African film took its place in the spotlight on Sunday when Tsotsi claimed the best foreign language Oscar, the first South African film to do so.
The film tells the story of a township thug, Tsotsi, played by Presley Chweneyagae who has to take care of an infant whose mother he shot during a car hijacking.
'Age of Hope'
In a statement released on Monday, President Thabo Mbeki said Tsotsi's award was "yet another well deserved accomplishment of our country and people".
"A story of poverty, hopelessness and struggle transformed into faith and a profound moral re-awakening leading to better future, Tsotsi, is another appropriate representation of the 'Age of Hope'.
"It bears testimony to the abundance of South African talent and symbolises what South Africans can achieve when we work together towards a common objective.
Mbeki congratulated the cast and crew, saying that they had made our nation immensely proud.
'Challenging contribution'
Congratulating the team for winning, Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan said he and millions of other South Africans saluted them for the "splendid and challenging contribution they have made to indigenous African film making".
"Their achievement has revealed to the world, and the USA in particular, that South African talent - as evidenced by award-winning actress and second-time Oscar nominee, Charlize Theron, for example - not only has the potential to stand tall and compete as equals with our international counterparts, but is also of world class," he said.
He added that it was a great honour that the country's creative artists had received much deserved recognition "at the heart of the world’s leading film and cinema community" as the Best Foreign Film.
Jordan said he was pleased that the efforts of the Department of Arts and Culture and the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) to promote and create an enabling environment for South African film were bearing fruit.
"The prize opens up new opportunities for South African talent to shine. Through it we hope film-makers will become more fully aware of the outstanding talent South Africa possesses and what magnificent landscape and scenery our beautiful country has to offer," he added.
'Magnificent win'
"Tsotsi’s win reinforces Dr Pallo Jordan’s statement: ‘the South African film industry has come of age’,"said Eddie Mbalo, CEO of the NFVF.
"We should all celebrate this magnificent win, and welcome Presley Chweneyagae, Terry Pheto, Paul Raleigh and Gavin Hood, home like heroes when they return from Los Angeles, we should also take our hats off to the magnificent all South African cast that appeared in the film."
"Once again we have shown that we can compete with the best in the world on any terrain," said the CEO of The International Marketing Council, Yvonne Johnston. "Our sportsmen and women are winning Olympic Gold, our scientists and inventors are honoured with Nobel Prizes and now a South African movie has won the highest possible accolade in the industry.
"Tsotsi’s victory has again emphasised the fact that South Africa is a country that is Alive with Possibility," said Johnston. "We have so many talented people and a limitless amount of skills, ingenuity and a ‘can-do attitude’ that we can offer to the world."
'South African story'
"This is a South African story as told through the eyes of South Africans, made in this country with a local cast and crew."
Yesterday producer Anant Singh, nominated for the 2005 award in the same category, added his voice to the chorus of congratulations, saying that the award sent out a clear message to the world that the South African film industry has come of age.
In a statement, Singh also noted the achievement of Cape Town-based Dion Beebe, winner in the best cinematography category for his work on Memoirs of a Geisha.
Tsotsi is based on a novel by South African playwright, Athol Fugard and is said to be putting "a human face on both the victims and perpetrators of crime”.
The plot is set in the 60's but transposed to the present times and its genuineness is enhanced by the use of township lingua franca or "Tsotsi taal".
Taking part in the film are also cast members Kenneth Nkosi, Mothusi Magano, Zenzo Ngqobe, Zola, Rapulana Seiphemo, Nambitha Mpumlwana and Nothuthui Sibisi among others.
Source: BuaNews and southafrica.info reporter
