TSOTSI — *** 1/2 — Presley Chweneyagae, Terry Pheto, Mothusi Magano; with English subtitles (South African dialects); R (profanity, violence, vulgarity, brief gore, brief partial nudity).
The title character of "Tsotsi" doesn't say much; he prefers to let his actions speak louder than words.
The movie "Tsotsi" — this year's Oscar winner for best foreign-language film — also says a lot when it appears not to be saying anything at all. The film's quietest, least dialogue-heavy scenes are its most effective.
And for a change, here's a film featuring a child-in-peril story that actually serves a purpose. Normally, such material is used as a cheap plot device or a gimmick to generate unearned suspense. Thankfully, that's not the case here.
The film's title is a slang term that loosely translates as "thug." It's a particularly fitting nickname for the main character, a young South African (Presley Chweneyagae) who leads a pack of petty thieves. Their crimes have become more violent with time, and eventually Tsotsi comes to blows with his best friend (Mothusi Magano).
Despondent about that turn of events, Tsotsi runs off and carjacks a young mother (Nambitha Mpumlwana). Miles later, he discovers her baby is still in the back seat.
But rather than bring the boy back to his parents, or leave him in the car, Tsotsi takes the infant home with him. He's ill-prepared to take care of a child, so he tries to persuade a young single mother (Terry Pheto) to help him.
Tsotsi's predicament with the child and his general cluelessness about a baby's needs do lead to a few welcome light-hearted moments, though the material certainly has darker elements.
But like its source material, Athol Fugard's novel, the film is a moving, thought-provoking examination of decency and responsibility. It's definitely filmmaker Gavin Hood's best work and establishes him — and his cast — as talents to watch.
"Tsotsi" is rated R for occasional use of strong sexual profanity, some strong violence (including a beating, a stabbing and two shootings), some crude gestures, slang and humor, brief gore and brief partial female nudity. Running time: 94 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com