Sarafina! (1992)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Darrell Roodt

Writers:

Mbongeni Ngema (play)
Mbongeni Ngema (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 January 1993 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Musical

Plot Keywords:

South Africa | Apartheid | Based On Play

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Leleti Khumalo	...	Sarafina
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Mary Masembuko
Miriam Makeba	...	Angelina
John Kani	...	School Principal
Dumisani Dlamini	...	Crocodile
Mbongeni Ngema	...	Sabela
Sipho Kunene	...	Guitar
Tertius Meintjes	...	Lieutenant Bloem
Robert Whitehead	...	Interrogator
Somizi Mhlongo	...	Fire (as Somizi 'Whacko' Mhlongo)
Nhlanhla Ngema	...	Stimela
Faca Khulu	...	Eddie (as Faca Kulu)
Wendy Mseleku	...	China
Mary Twala	...	Sarafina's Grandmother
James Mthoba	...	Sarafina's Uncle

Runtime:

117 min | Argentina:115 min

Country:

France | South Africa | UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (cable rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Chile:14 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "Sarafina!" opened at the Cort Theater in New York on January 28, 1988, ran for 597 performances and was nominated for the 1988 Tony Awards for the Best Musical and Score. Dumisani Dlamini, Leleti Khumalo, Nhlanhla Ngema and 'Mbongeni Ngema' recreated their roles in the movie version. A nomination for the 1988 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical went to Leleti Khumalo.

Movie Connections:

Version of Voices of Sarafina! (1988)

Soundtrack:

One More Time

Fantastic Stage show - good movie

I saw Sarafina as a stage show/musical when I was only a teenager and it drove home for me the hardships of young people in Africa. I saw this movie AFTER Nelson Mandela was released and yet it still is an overwhelmingly powerful movie. I enjoyed it and personally don't think that the musical aspects spoil the message and it does the original cast proud!!! Bravo! Whoopi Goldberg lends her brilliant compassion to the role and helps to endear the school teacher who supports the kids to the audience.

Unlike the traditional song and dance musicals which were all sweetness and light this movie manages to tackle hard and unpleasant issues whilst still being uplifting at times and glorious musically!