| Actors:
| Whoopi Goldberg, Leleti Khumalo, Miriam Makeba, Dumisani Dlamini, Mbongeni Ngema | | Director:
| Darrell Roodt | | Format:
| Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC | | Language:
| English | | Number of Discs:
| 1 | | Studio:
| Walt Disney Video | | Run Time:
| 117 minutes | | DVD Release Date:
| June 04, 2002 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 38 reviews |
|
Average Customer Review:
 ( 38 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 22 found the following review helpful:
 The Struggle for JusticeMay 08, 2006
By Elijah Chingosho
"Dr Elijah Chingosho"
"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.
21 of 23 found the following review helpful:
 Still powerful after all this timeMay 11, 2004
By Andrew
"Ciao"
I think all who have seen Sarafina agree it is a powerful movie. What's more, it's beautiful at the same time. Listen to the voices of the choir in this movie. Sarafina started as a musical, and that talent is prevalent in the film version as well. The accapellas are spectacular, and the choir sings in South African fashion. It gives me a chill.I enjoyed seeing Whoopi Goldberg in a dramatic role, versus the comedy shtick she usally does. Lastly, tt's interesting seeing the conditions that apartheid era blacks lived in South Africa. Thank goodness apartheid is over. I'm glad what we see in this movie is now history!
11 of 12 found the following review helpful:
Love it!Jul 09, 2000
The movie tells a lot about what went during the turbulent times in South Africa. Sarafina is a South African girl who is part of an anti-segregation group in Soweto, South Africa. She went to a school governed by white soldiers learning only about the white history. Her history teacher secretly taught about how the students could make a difference. Sarafina participate in many dangerous protests where her friends have gotten injured, arrested and even killed. This movie is very educational and would do well in a eighth grade classroom.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Sounds of freedom!Sep 29, 2005
By Nse Ette
`Sarafina!' is the soundtrack to the brilliant musical movie starring Whoopi Goldberg as a radical school teacher in apartheid South Africa, and a bright sunny student named Sarafina. Whoopi allegedly agreed to appear in Sister Act II on the condition that this movie got promoted by Hollywood.
The soundtrack comprises mostly South African music, rich in percussion, organs, horns, guitars, throbbing bass, and the outstanding vocals and harmonizing South African music is famous for.
Opening track `Sarafina!' by Hugh Masakela is a bouncy, rhythmic number performed by the cast. Melodic guitars and darting horns make this a winner. In a similar vein is `Freedom is coming tomorrow'.
`The Lord's prayer' is a dramatic rendition of the famous prayer. It starts off slow and accapella with organ accompaniment, before the rich African rhythm heralds a joyous chorale performance. This was performed by the entire school cast at the start of another school day.
`Thank you mama' is a tender lilting ballad that kicks off with chants and rolling guitars. A love song between mother (Miriam Makeba) and daughter (Leleti Khumalo).
Most of the other songs are typical beautiful South African sounds, ranging from down tempo lament-like songs to joyous celebrations; `Nkonyane Kandaba' (lament-like), `Sabela', `Sechaba', `Safa Saphel' Isizwe' (lament-like), the guitar laden `Vuma Dlozi Lami' and `Lizobuya'.
`One more time' features the fiery vocals of James Ingram, with South African backing vocals which transform what would have otherwise been a bland R&B song.
A brilliant movie and soundtrack!
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
The bestJun 29, 2000
African music. Fantastic. Moving. Amazing just like the beautiful movie. Buy it.
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