The film 'Tsotsi' directed by Gavin Hood is set in Post Apartheid South Africa. This film focuses on areas such as the shantytowns and the Johannesburg suburbs. This is done to show the extent of the effect the Apartheid had had on the Blacks that were confined to the slums during the apartheid and the other significant amount of blacks that are now upper class and living in the suburbs. The issue of HIV/AIDS is also addressed.Shot types and the mise en scene of the train station are used to establish the economic and social situation of the South African society. The establishing shot of the train station is extreme long shot, high angle and is focused on the inside of the station. This shot shows the vast interior and also both the rich and poor people in the same environment on their separate journey by train. The mise en scene emphasises how clean and modern the station is. We see a wide billboard hanging from the ceiling which states 'We are all affected by HIV and AIDS'. This sign educates outsiders the impact AIDS has on South Africa and the impact it has on people like Tsotsi, the main character in film. Tsotsi's parents passed away with AIDS leaving him orphaned at a very young age. Through these camera shots and mise en scene, the director helps educate viewers about AIDS in south africa and the social status of the poor and rich people.
Music and soundtrack are also important as they are used to help viewers understand a certain mood and/or culture of the poor in the Soweto shantytowns. At the early stages of the film, there is a scene of Tsotsi and his gang shuffling along in the street. The soundtrack of 'Mdlewembe' was associated with this scene. The director uses this particular music to build a sense of suspense. We know this because the tone of this soundtrack was very intense, full of bass, had very strong tempo and it was upbeat. Due to the adrenaline rush given off by the tone, we feel that this gang are up to no good. Also this music is an example of Kwaito music which is common on the streets of the shantytowns. The music is a way for these people to speak out about their hardship and this is noticeable as we see shacks piled on top of each other and rubbish strewn around everywhere.
The mise en scene is one of the most significant techniques used to contrast various settings in this film. This contrast is between the middle class or upper class suburbs and the shantytowns. We notice that the suburbs have well aligned streets, with streetlights. The suburbs are a clean area with lots of green and well groomed trees. Their buildings are made of cement and wood surrounded with security camera and electronic gates. At the shantytowns, the setting is very different. Their buildings are made of corrugated iron and bits of metals put together to form a shack. There are no streelights and the streets or walkways are covered in dirt and rubbish. The director usese this contrast to tell viewers that there are parts of south Africa that is rich and there are parts were shanty towns and slums still exist. It also highlights how in the suburbs, the need for security is much greater to keep away intruders or villains living at the back of their priced suburban area. According to history during the apartheid the black people of south africa were confined to the slums as a way of separating them from the whites which made them feel dehumanised. So the mise en scene in the shantytown points out that even though the apartheid is over, many blakcs are still extremely poor and have to live without clean runnning water and electricity.
In addition to the techniques already mentined, costume helps to establish the differece in the two class divisions. The two characters that emphasise this division is Miriam who lives in the shantytown and John, the upper classs black man who lives in the suburbs. The clothes Miriam wears are earthy coloured and traditionally patterned. It is not the kind of clothes that has a brand on it and can be bought at a fashion retail outlet. It is the type of cloth that are sewed by hand and found in a tailors shop. Miriam also wears colourful head scarfs which are quite symbolic to African women as they show pride and strenght. John, the upper class man is seen wearing European style clothes which are modern and quite expensive. This style of clothing emphasise his status of wealth and his disregard towards his traditional costumes which he considers poor and out dated.
The importance of the setting to the film as a whole was to establish the issues such as the huge gap between the rich and the poor in south Africa and also the huge impact AIDS has on these people. Issues such as desperation for money, envy and resentment of the upper class's wealth, puts the shantytown dwellers in an economically segregated community which leads to the need of security for the upper class living in the suburbs.
In summary shot types, mise en scene, soundtrack and costume were the key techniques used to establish the setting in the film 'Tsotsi' directed by Gavin Hood. These settings were important to the film as a whole because it helps the viewers understand certain issues such as the social and economic segregation, poverty in the shantytowns and the serious issue of HIV/AIDS.
