MovieChat Forums > Tsotsi (2006) Discussion > ants on the baby...

ants on the baby...

posted 14 years ago by erikriveros
7 replies | jump to latest

regarding the scene where tsotsi comes home to find ants all over the baby, i thought it was a scene that we'd never see in an american movie (always like seeing something i haven't seen before in a movie), with out delicate sensibilities...but i thought it was an honest scene that pulled no punches...

having said that, those had to be cgi ants right? the only reason i question it is b/c this film didn't seem to be one that would use CGI, either b/c of budget or style? just wanted to be sure.

it is better to have a gun and not need it, than to need a gun and not have it

[–] moviequeen123 14 years ago

I just watched this film and in all honesty, I thought the "baby" was a very realistic animatronic doll during that scene and one or two other close up scenes. Something about the baby just didn't seem right. Obviously, I could be wrong, but that's what I thought.

[–] divaofdeath 14 years ago

You are wrong, there were two babies, the only time a doll was used, was when you did not see into the brown bag. The mothers were always close at hand.

[–] divaofdeath 14 years ago

You are right, those were CGI ants, how ever, a couple of real ants were crawling on the baby, with the mother close by, just off camera. You just can not shoot that kind of action with real ants, and yes, that was the only CGI shot in the film.

[–] erikriveros 14 years ago

thanks alot...

it is better to have a gun and not need it, than to need a gun and not have it

[–] phatclassics 12 years ago

Dice in the opening credits were also CGI

[–] Fevergreen 14 years ago

That particular scene was very effective in bringing the realism to the film. I was genuinely shocked by it and really did not expect it.

[–] GalacticLaughter 8 years ago

I have not seen this movie so I cannot comment directly on the scene, but what I'm reading about the "ants on the baby" scene brings to mind the book "100 Years of Solitude" by Gabriel García Márquez, which uses a similar image.

Anyone seen this movie who has also read the book "100 Years of Solitude?" Are there are other parallels between the two?