Sarafina!
"She was their teacher. They were her hope."
Originally released in 1992. Sarafina! is a music/drama film. directed by Darrell James Roodt.
Starring Leleti Khumalo, Whoopi Goldberg, and John Kani
Synopsis
The plot centers on students involved in the Soweto Riots, in opposition to the implementation of Afrikaans as the language of instruction in schools. The stage version presents a school uprising similar to the Soweto uprising on June 16, 1976. A narrator introduces several characters among them the school girl activist Sarafina. Things get out of control when a policeman shoots several pupils in a classroom. Nevertheless, the musical ends with a cheerful farewell show of pupils leaving school, which takes most of act two. In the movie version Sarafina feels shame at her mother's (played by Miriam Makeba in the film) acceptance of her role as domestic servant in a white household in apartheid South Africa, and inspires her peers to rise up in protest, especially after her inspirational teacher, Mary Masombuka (played by Whoopi Goldberg in the film version) is imprisoned.
Quick Facts
Release Date
September 18, 1992
33 years ago
Runtime
1h 57m
117 minutes total
User Rating
6.1/10
Good (44 votes)
Language
English
Original language
Country
South Africa
+ 3 more
Director
Top Cast
Leleti Khumalo
as Sarafina
Whoopi Goldberg
as Mary Masembuko
John Kani
as School Principal
Miriam Makeba
as Angelina
Mary Twala
as Sarafina's Grandmother
Dumisani Dlamini
as Crocodile
Mbongeni Ngema
as Sabela
Tertius Meintjes
as Lieutenant Bloem
Robert Whitehead
as Interrogator
Greg Latter
as Policeman
Production Details
- Status
- Released
- Original Language
- EN
Production Companies
- BBC
- Vanguard Films
- Distant Horizon
- Ideal
- Les Films Ariane
- Videovision Entertainment
- Hollywood Pictures
- Miramax
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sarafina! about?
The plot centers on students involved in the Soweto Riots, in opposition to the implementation of Afrikaans as the language of instruction in schools. The stage version presents a school uprising s...
Who directed Sarafina!?
Sarafina! was directed by Darrell James Roodt.
How long is Sarafina!?
Sarafina! has a runtime of 1 hours and 57 minutes (117 minutes total).
When was Sarafina! released?
Sarafina! was released on September 18, 1992 in theaters.
Who are the main actors in Sarafina!?
The main cast of Sarafina! includes Leleti Khumalo, Whoopi Goldberg, John Kani, Miriam Makeba, Mary Twala.