Sarafina! (1992)
She was their teacher. They were her hope.
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.
Cast
- Leleti Khumalo - Sarafina
- Whoopi Goldberg - Mary Masembuko
- John Kani - School Principal
- Miriam Makeba - Angelina
- Mary Twala - Sarafina's Grandmother
- Dumisani Dlamini - Crocodile
- Mbongeni Ngema - Sabela
- Tertius Meintjes - Lieutenant Bloem
- Robert Whitehead - Interrogator
- Greg Latter - Policeman
Screenplay
- William Nicholson (Screenplay)
- Mbongeni Ngema (Screenplay)
- Mbongeni Ngema (Theatre Play)
Themes
Musical Spectacle
Keywords
africa, south africa, apartheid, musical, based on play or musical, soweto
Trailer
Sarafina! TrailerFrequently 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 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.
- Who directed Sarafina!?
- Sarafina! was directed by Darrell James Roodt.
- Who stars in Sarafina!?
- Sarafina! stars Leleti Khumalo, Whoopi Goldberg, John Kani, Miriam Makeba, Mary Twala, Dumisani Dlamini.
- How long is Sarafina!?
- Sarafina! has a runtime of 1h 57m (117 minutes).
- What genre is Sarafina!?
- Sarafina! is a Music, Drama, Family film.
- Where was Sarafina! produced?
- Sarafina! was produced in South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, France.
- What are the themes of Sarafina!?
- The themes of Sarafina! include: Musical Spectacle.