Sarafina! (1992)

Director:

Darrell Roodt

Writers:

Mbongeni Ngema (play), Mbongeni Ngema (screenplay),

Stars:

Leleti Khumalo, Whoopi Goldberg, Miriam Makeba

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

south africa | africa | apartheid | based on play

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Taglines:

The Sound of Freedom

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Genres:

Drama | Musical

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Details

Country:

South Africa UK France USA

Language:

English Zulu

Release Date:

15 January 1993 (UK)

Also Known As:

Sarafina! Il profumo della libertà

Filming Locations:

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Box Office

Gross:

$7,306,242 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Distant Horizons, Hollywood Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

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Quotes

Sarafina: Come on, Nelson. Why can't I be a star? What does a star do? Nothing. Look at the camera, flash! Smile at the camera, flash! Look at everybody, big eyes! Say nothing. Stars don't do, stars just be.

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Connections

Version of Voices of Sarafina! (1988)

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Soundtracks

"Vuma Diozi Lami"
Written by Mbongeni Ngema
Performed by Leleti Khumalo

User Reviews

Good story ruined as a musical

I think the best way to look at this idea is I got into an argument with my mom over how good the movie was. I thought it was a ludicrous musical, she thought it was a very thoughtful and beautiful movie. Ends up in musicals, she just hits the fast forward button through the music.

The story is great, the message it tries to give is great, the music detracts from the movie. With the exception to a few songs (in particular the one from the jail house), the majority of the songs detract from the movie - making it seem rather ridiculous and detracting from the overall presentation.