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

Go see this movie now!

Any fans of "The Lion King" (film -or- musical) and "The Power of One" will enjoy this film beyond belief. Based on the broadway musical "Sarafina!", this film (distributed by Buena Vista [Walt Disney Studios]) definetely meets my expectations.

It isn't about the acting. I personally think that the cast was amazing, but for those select few who think Whoopi Goldberg did a so-called "mediocre" acting job, this film is about a story, a very strong story. Who cares about the acting? I mean, look at "Gone With The Wind". The acting sucks and look how popular it is!

So anyway, the story is very dramatic and sort of violent, but is very emotional and touching. The music is fantastic, "Freedom is Coming Tomorrow" being one of the highlights of the film. If you haven't seen this movie, go see it now, regardless of what people say. It is an amazing film.