Sarafina!

Play trailer

Sarafina!

PG-13

1992

1h 38m

Musical

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

60%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Sarafina is a young black South African struggling for freedom during apartheid. While she has remained relatively silent in her opposition of the racist government in her country, the movement to make the language of Afrikaans the official language in her school leads her to protest in the streets with her fellow students. Her anti-government views become even more intense when her favorite teacher is arrested for protesting.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

01/01/2000

2/4

This movie doesn't know what it believes.

Go to Full Review

Malcolm L. Johnson

Hartford Courant

04/16/2018

While Sarafina! is unabashedly propagandistic on behalf of its young black heroes, even the viewpoint of the murdered black constable can be felt -- with Ngema himself as the charming yet unprincipled quisling.

Go to Full Review

Andrea Beach

Common Sense Media

05/05/2015

3/5

Sobering musical about apartheid includes brutal violence.

Go to Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

07/18/2005

2/5

Daniel M. Kimmel

Worcester Telegram & Gazette

12/07/2004

3/5

Robin Clifford

Reeling Reviews

11/19/2004

2/5

Read all reviews

DOMONIQUE S

@RT63472886 10/11/2023

I THINK IT'S A STUPID MOVIE, MAN.

See more

07/10/2020

A must see for all black people!

See more

11/11/2019

A buffet of African heritage and culture , True African warrior spirit.. #vivasouthafrica

See more

10/04/2019

Sarafina Is One Of The Best Movies

See more

05/09/2018

The critical consensus here is rubbish probably spawning from white guilt. tHE audience score says it all. sarafina is a timeless masterpiece.

See more

05/01/2017

The actors are brilliant and bring the songs and their meanings to life. The songs evoke true emotion to anyone who watches it

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Darrell James Roodt

Director

Leleti Khumalo

Sarafina

Whoopi Goldberg

Mary Masembuko

Miriam Makeba

Angelina

John Kani

School Principal

Mbongeni Ngema

Sabela

The Mambo Kings

82%

68%

The Mambo Kings

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Mambo Kings

Take the Lead

44%

77%

Take the Lead

Watchlist

Pink Floyd - The Wall

73%

89%

Pink Floyd - The Wall

Watchlist

Chicago

87%

83%

Chicago

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Chicago

Step Up

21%

83%

Step Up

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Sarafina is a young black South African struggling for freedom during apartheid. While she has remained relatively silent in her opposition of the racist government in her country, the movement to make the language of Afrikaans the official language in her school leads her to protest in the streets with her fellow students. Her anti-government views become even more intense when her favorite teacher is arrested for protesting.

Director: Darrell James Roodt
Producer: Anant Singh, David M. Thompson
Screenwriter: Mbongeni Ngema, William Nicholson
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Videovision Entertainment, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax Films, Les Films Ariane, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Distant Horizon, Vanguard Films Production
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Musical, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 11, 1992, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $7.3M
Runtime: 1h 38m
Sound Mix: Dolby, Surround, Stereo