Sarafina!

"She was their teacher. They were her hope."

1992 1h 57m EN

😐

6.2

MID

★6.2TMDB · 49

MusicDramaFamily

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A Soweto schoolgirl named Sarafina is galvanized to protest apartheid after her teacher is arrested for her activism, leading her to join the student resistance movement.

“She was their teacher. They were her hope.”

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Where to watch · US

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

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Darrell James Roodt
Writers: William Nicholson, Mbongeni Ngema
Languages: English, Zulu
Countries: South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

34 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Zulu.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 4 countries: South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, France.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Darrell James Roodt, shot by Mark Vicente. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Stanley Myers. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Peter Hollywood shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Leleti Khumalo and Whoopi Goldberg and John Kani carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "She was their teacher. They were her hope.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Darrell James Roodt directs. Mark Vicente behind the camera. Stanley Myers scores. Peter Hollywood cuts. Produced in South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, France. Dialogue in English, Zulu.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

134 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Zulu.
3International production across 4 countries: South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, France.
4Directed by Darrell James Roodt, shot by Mark Vicente. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Stanley Myers. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Peter Hollywood shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Leleti Khumalo and Whoopi Goldberg and John Kani carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "She was their teacher. They were her hope.".
9IMDB entry: tt0105316 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 49 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.