Sarafina (1992)

Academy Award(R)-winning star Whoopi Goldberg (Best Supporting Actress -- GHOST) lights up the screen in her latest hit -- the exhilarating and entertaining SARAFINA! In a world where truth is forbidden, an inspiring teacher (Whoopi Goldberg) dares to instill in her students lessons not found in schoolbooks. In doing so, she challenges their freedom and hers. Applauded by critics and audiences everywhere, this upbeat and powerful story promises to stir your emotions and make your spirits soar!

Freedom

This is a very good collection from some great African legends. The songs in hope for freedom. Thank you Mama, is undoubtable my best track on this CD, especially listening to the inspiring voice of Miriam Makeba backed by Hugh Masekela and Mbongeni Ngema. October 12, 2008

Flawed but powerful

I popped this into the DVD player after partially watching two turkeys, and in the first 15 minutes we got two full-length musical numbers, and one of them was black South African students trying to sound like white American gospel singers. I almost gave up right there. But I'm glad I didn't.

What we obviously have here is a Broadway musical turned into a film. It's only 98 minutes, and if it had no music at all it'd be about 75 minutes.

I certainly have nothing against music, especially if it's got some African rhythms to it -- and before you ask, I'm white -- but when it gets in the way of the story, as those first two numbers did, we don't need it. After that, it was just fine. After the first two musical numbers, somebody realized that 4 minutes feels much more than twice the length of 2 minutes.

The problem with this movie is that it's got little more than one conflict. Its heart is most certainly in the right place, and the acting is powerful, but when a 98-minute movie has padding, that's a problem. Hence the three stars. Even so, I recommend it. I'm glad I saw it.
April 14, 2008

Sarafina

Sarafina is an excellent movie to show students with parent permission on Apartheid. After teaching Apartheid students were able to view this film and relate to what life was like being being placed in a homeland and losing your citizenships. Students were able to identify with being a citizenship of the homeland but no longer a citizen of Africa. The role Whoppi played as a teacher demonstrated the restrictions placed on Africans by the government. The Bantu police in the film at the school and the prison really enforced what I was teaching in class.
Students wrote an excellent view on the film portraying what they actual learned in the classroom. January 8, 2008

Sarafina

A great movie which gives an overview of what occured during the apartheid regime in South Africa. It tells the story of a young black girl living in Soweto, who has dreams to make it as a star before she realises the true reality of the situation around her. Not a morbid movie at all but has its serious moments. The funny side of people living in their situation is portrayed very well. June 26, 2006

The Struggle for Justice

"Sarafina" is a powerful and moving film about the struggle of South African school kids for survival and freedom against apartheid. It is a story of determination, perseverance and courage against tremendous odds. It teaches us that good will always triumph against evil: that the oppressed will always fight back and die to regain their freedom and dignity. The viewer will have a picture of what life was like under apartheid, ranging from school life, living conditions for blacks, the prisons and the brutal police.

I particularly love the beautiful South African music with its rich and outstanding vocals, percussion, horns and the like. You will love the sounds of veterans musicians like Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba.

This is highly recommended for those who want to learn the history of the struggle against social injustice in South Africa.
May 8, 2006

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