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IMDbPro

Sarafina!

  • 19921992
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2K
YOUR RATING
Sarafina! (1992)
Trailer for Sarafina!
Play trailer2:06
1 Video
28 Photos
  • Drama
  • Musical
South African teenagers fight against apartheid in the Soweto Uprising.South African teenagers fight against apartheid in the Soweto Uprising.South African teenagers fight against apartheid in the Soweto Uprising.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Darrell Roodt
  • Writers
    • Mbongeni Ngema(play)
    • William Nicholson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Whoopi Goldberg
    • Leleti Khumalo
    • Miriam Makeba
Top credits
  • Director
    • Darrell Roodt
  • Writers
    • Mbongeni Ngema(play)
    • William Nicholson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Whoopi Goldberg
    • Leleti Khumalo
    • Miriam Makeba
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 23User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos1

    Sarafina!
    Trailer 2:06
    Sarafina!

    Photos28

    Whoopi Goldberg and Leleti Khumalo in Sarafina! (1992)
    Leleti Khumalo in Sarafina! (1992)
    Whoopi Goldberg in Sarafina! (1992)
    Whoopi Goldberg in Sarafina! (1992)
    Sarafina! (1992)
    Whoopi Goldberg and Leleti Khumalo in Sarafina! (1992)
    Sarafina! (1992)
    Sarafina! (1992)
    Whoopi Goldberg and Leleti Khumalo in Sarafina! (1992)
    Sarafina! (1992)
    Sarafina! (1992)
    Whoopi Goldberg in Sarafina! (1992)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Whoopi Goldberg
    Whoopi Goldberg
    • Mary Masembukoas Mary Masembuko
    Leleti Khumalo
    Leleti Khumalo
    • Sarafinaas Sarafina
    Miriam Makeba
    Miriam Makeba
    • Angelinaas Angelina
    John Kani
    John Kani
    • School Principalas School Principal
    Dumisani Dlamini
    • Crocodileas Crocodile
    Mbongeni Ngema
    Mbongeni Ngema
    • Sabelaas Sabela
    Sipho Kunene
    • Guitaras Guitar
    Tertius Meintjes
    • Lieutenant Bloemas Lieutenant Bloem
    Robert Whitehead
    Robert Whitehead
    • Interrogatoras Interrogator
    Somizi Mhlongo
    • Fireas Fire
    • (as Somizi 'Whacko' Mhlongo)
    Nhlanhla Ngema
    • Stimelaas Stimela
    Faca Khulu
    • Eddieas Eddie
    • (as Faca Kulu)
    Wendy Mseleku
    • Chinaas China
    Mary Twala
    Mary Twala
    • Sarafina's Grandmotheras Sarafina's Grandmother
    James Mthoba
    • Sarafina's Uncleas Sarafina's Uncle
    Greg Latter
    • Policemanas Policeman
    Gideon De Wet
    • Policemanas Policeman
    Nicky Rebelo
    Nicky Rebelo
    • Soldieras Soldier
    • Director
      • Darrell Roodt
    • Writers
      • Mbongeni Ngema(play) (screenplay)
      • William Nicholson(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • Quotes

      Preacher: They fear you because you are young. They fear you because you are the future. How fearful they must be that they shoot you children. How powerful you must be that they fear you so much. You are powerful because you are the generation that will be free. The violence, the beatings, the torture, the killings; all this is the birth pain of our free nation. Please God, may I live to see it. But if I don't, I see it now on your faces like the light of the rising sun, and my heart lifts within me, as if I, too, was young again. And I know, yes, I know freedom is coming tomorrow. May our children rest in peace. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

    • Alternate versions
      Exclusive Director's Cut is available on laserdisc and features 15 minutes of additional footage not shown in theaters.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Sister Act/Encino Man/Alien³/Far and Away (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      One More Time
      Written by Tom Snow and Dean Pitchford

      Sung by James Ingram

    User reviews23

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Full of joy and tears - what a gem!
    I bought this cheap from the rental remnant at our local store. It was in almost mint condition, and I'd never heard of it before. Clearly nobody else had either.

    I can't believe my luck. You go through the whole realm of emotions and it attempts to get over a complex message - the very moral and non-triumphalist stance of the Mandela Party, undoubtedly. Despite its enormous length (I had to watch it in two sittings) - it was like a book one couldn't put down. Perhaps the songs are not all that memorable, but the spirit of the thing glows on forever. I cannot understand comments that a musical (clearly designed for stage) is not realistic! I've seen "South Pacific" and read the book too, and can guarantee that musical is not realistic compared to the book. I'll treasure this little find until it wears out. One day they'll make this again on a better budget.
    helpful•6
    3
    • clevelander
    • Dec 28, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 25, 1992 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • South Africa
      • United Kingdom
      • France
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Zulu
    • Also known as
      • Сарафина!
    • Filming locations
      • Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa
    • Production companies
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • Distant Horizon
      • Hollywood Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,306,242
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $76,488
      • Sep 20, 1992
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,306,242
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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