Two SA Oscar nominations

31 January 2006

South Africans will be holding thumbs for two Oscars this year, as both Charlize Theron and the movie Tsotsi have been nominated.

Theron has been nominated in the category "Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in North Country. She plays the part of Josey Aimes, a single mother who is subjected to humiliating sexual harassment after she takes a job at a coal mine.

The other actress nominated in the category are Judy Dench, Kiera Knightley, Felicity Huffman and Reese Witherspoon.

Theron is a former winner, having won the coveted award for her performance in the 2003 Monster.

Foreign language
The other South African nomination is for Tsotsi in the category "Foreign Language Film". Tsotsi will be competing against films from Italy, France, Palestine and Germany.

Tsotsi - South African slang for "thug", "hoodlum" or "gangster" - tells the story of a violent young criminal who finds redemption after he inadvertently abducts a baby during a car hijacking. The film is based on a novel by South African playwright Atholl Fugard.

In its North American debut, the film won the People's Choice award at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was also the first production in over seven years to win both the audience and critics awards for best film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. The production reportedly received the highest audience rating of any film ever screened at Edinburgh.

In 2005 another South African film, Yesterday received a nomination in this category.

The Oscars will be announced in Los Angeles on 5 March.

Southafrica.info reporter

31 January 2006