South African teenagers fight against apartheid in the Soweto Uprising.
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Title: Sarafina! (1992)
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3 nominations.
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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 | |
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Sipho Kunene | ... | Guitar |
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Tertius Meintjes | ... | Lieutenant Bloem |
| Robert Whitehead | ... | Interrogator | |
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Somizi Mhlongo | ... | Fire (as Somizi 'Whacko' Mhlongo) |
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Nhlanhla Ngema | ... | Stimela |
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Faca Khulu | ... | Eddie (as Faca Kulu) |
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Wendy Mseleku | ... | China |
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Mary Twala | ... | Sarafina's Grandmother |
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James Mthoba | ... | Sarafina's Uncle |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
As tentions of Apatheid spreads accross South Africa, many students revolts to massive stone throw, a demonstration that comes in a wake of the introduction of Afrikanas language as a means of teaching. This sparks riots among school age young people who have resolved to do what it takes for freedom to come tomorrow. In a township of Soweto, a group of students, led by a young beautiful and intelligent girl Sarafina, mastermind a plot to rise against the Apatheid regime by velmently rejecting the proposal to have Africanas as a medium of instruction and this angers the white people and results in a massive unrest of the students and those others supporting them. Mean while, Sarafina's mother accepts a job of a housekeeper in a white woman and somehow it angers Sarafina. Following the unrest of students and therd possible torture and trial, Sarafina is realesed from prison, reunites with some of the coleagues and composes a "Freedom is Coming Tomorrow" song. Written by Isaac Museka Lupupa
Plot Keywords:
teacher | reference to nelson mandela | reference to soweto uprising | death of teacher | eponymous name |Taglines:
The Sound of Freedom See more »Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated PG-13 for scenes of apartheid-driven violence | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Written by Mbongeni Ngema
Performed by Miriam Makeba and Leleti Khumalo
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Film composer Stanley Myer's last scored film. See more »Quotes
Interrogator: I don't give a shit how young you are. You throw a bomb at me, I'm going to kill you. You try to burn down my house, I'm going to kill you. You make war on my country, I'm going to kill you. You think you've got the whole of black Africa just waiting to roll on over us, eh? You try it. Just try it. We're ready for you.See more »
Alternate Versions
Exclusive Director's Cut is available on laserdisc and features 15 minutes of additional footage not shown in theaters. See more »Soundtracks
Thank You MamaWritten by Mbongeni Ngema
Performed by Miriam Makeba and Leleti Khumalo
See more »
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Details
Release Date:
25 September 1992 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Sarafina! Il profumo della libertà See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$76,488, 20 September 1992Gross USA:
$7,306,242Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$7,306,242Company Credits
Production Co:
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Distant Horizon, Hollywood Pictures See more »
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
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I believe Sarafina is a tremendous effort of Whoopi Goldberg. Besides her, there are no other stars in the film and her role is smaller than the title character, Sarafina. Since I work in a high school with urban children, I think this is an important film to show South African history of apartheid. Sarafina is a movie about education and a teacher's relationship with her student, Sarafina. I bought the video for practically nothing at a videostore. I watched it and fast forwarded through the musical numbers. But I strongly recommend this film to educators and their students to understand. Now while I don't know the other actors and actresses in the film, I assume that they are very popular in South Africa and I am glad that they filmed with a South African cast and crew with the exception of Goldberg in a small role but if it gets people to see this movie, than Whoopi reaches worldwide appeal.