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Sarafina!

Play trailer Poster for Sarafina! PG-13 Released Sep 11, 1992 1h 38m Musical Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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60% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Sarafina (Leleti Khumalo) is a young black South African struggling for freedom during the 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 (Whoopi Goldberg) is arrested for protesting.
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Sarafina!

Critics Reviews

View All (10) Critics Reviews
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times This movie doesn't know what it believes. Rated: 2/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle Rated: 2/5 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Malcolm Johnson Hartford Courant 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. Apr 16, 2018 Full Review Andrea Beach Common Sense Media Sobering musical about apartheid includes brutal violence. Rated: 3/5 May 5, 2015 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Jul 18, 2005 Full Review Daniel M. Kimmel Worcester Telegram & Gazette Rated: 3/5 Dec 7, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (229) audience reviews
DOMONIQUE S I THINK IT'S A STUPID MOVIE, MAN. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/11/23 Full Review Audience Member A must see for all black people! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member A buffet of African heritage and culture , True African warrior spirit.. #vivasouthafrica Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Sarafina Is One Of The Best Movies Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member The critical consensus here is rubbish probably spawning from white guilt. tHE audience score says it all. sarafina is a timeless masterpiece. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member The actors are brilliant and bring the songs and their meanings to life. The songs evoke true emotion to anyone who watches it Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Sarafina!

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Movie Info

Synopsis Sarafina (Leleti Khumalo) is a young black South African struggling for freedom during the 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 (Whoopi Goldberg) 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
Distant Horizon, Videovision Entertainment, Miramax Films, Vanguard Films Production, Les Films Ariane, Hollywood Pictures, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
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
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