Sarafina! is a 1992 musical drama film based on Mbongeni Ngema's 1987 musical of the same name. The film was directed by Darrell Roodt and written by Ngema Mbongeni and William Nicholson, and stars Leleti Khumalo, Miriam Makeba, John Kani, Ngema, and Whoopi Goldberg; Khumalo reprises her role from the stage performance.
Plot[]
The character Sarafina feels shame at her mother's 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 is imprisoned. In the opening scene, Sarafina is seen talking while staring at Nelson Mandela's picture, at the time the South African icon was still imprisoned. In a later scene Sarafina is again talking while staring at Mandela's picture on the wall, criticizing him for being gone for a long time and not responding to the nation's pleas, idolising him as someone who can change the horrific situation that South Africa is in.
Cast[]
- Whoopi Goldberg as Mary
- Miriam Makeba as Angelina
- John Kani as School Principal
- Mbongeni Ngema as Sabela
- Leleti Khumalo as Sarafina
- Dumisani Dlamini as Crocodile
- Tertius Meintjes as Lieutenant Bloem
- Robert Whitehead as Interrogator
- Somizi Mhlongo as Fire
- Nhlanhla Ngema as Stimela
- Faca Khulu as Eddie
- James Mthoba as Sarafina's Uncle
- Greg Latter as Policeman
- Nicky Rebelo as Soldier