Sarafina!

I bought this cheap from the rental remnant at our local store. It was in almost mint condition, and I'd never heard of it before. Clearly nobody else had either.

I can't believe my luck. You go through the whole realm of emotions and it attempts to get over a complex message - the very moral and non-triumphalist stance of the Mandela Party, undoubtedly. Despite its enormous length (I had to watch it in two sittings) - it was like a book one couldn't put down. Perhaps the songs are not all that memorable, but the spirit of the thing glows on forever. I cannot understand comments that a musical (clearly designed for stage) is not realistic! I've seen "South Pacific" and read the book too, and can guarantee that musical is not realistic compared to the book. I'll treasure this little find until it wears out. One day they'll make this again on a better budget.

Any fans of "The Lion King" (film -or- musical) and "The Power of One" will enjoy this film beyond belief. Based on the broadway musical "Sarafina!", this film (distributed by Buena Vista [Walt Disney Studios]) definetely meets my expectations.

It isn't about the acting. I personally think that the cast was amazing, but for those select few who think Whoopi Goldberg did a so-called "mediocre" acting job, this film is about a story, a very strong story. Who cares about the acting? I mean, look at "Gone With The Wind". The acting sucks and look how popular it is!

So anyway, the story is very dramatic and sort of violent, but is very emotional and touching. The music is fantastic, "Freedom is Coming Tomorrow" being one of the highlights of the film. If you haven't seen this movie, go see it now, regardless of what people say. It is an amazing film.

I only saw a few minutes of Sarafina!, but I must comment. I think a musical can never be a great teaching tool for anything but a drama class. I have been to South Africa, and granted, it has changed since the days of apartheid, what I saw in this movie is nothing like reality. Even today, the classrooms are not that nice, and the black people I met were nothing like the ones in the movie. I was privileged to see a few concerts of African music, and to spend a large amount of time in classrooms, both in white schools and black schools (yes, they are still segregated, although by location, class and money, rather than law). The general attitude of the people I saw in the movie was inaccurate, as were many details. I couldn't even figure out exactly what story they were trying to tell until I looked it up on TV Guide because it was so generically "African". I am sure that as entertainment and emotional manipulation, the movie is quite effective, but if you are interested in history, please find a more accurate source.

Sarafina! is all about strength, about people lacking it and people overflowing with it. Sarafina herself is a Soweto girl with great hopes for the future, despite her family's poverty and her mother's (Miriam Makeba) work away from home, forcing Sarafina to take care of her younger siblings. This is South Africa, Johannesburg, during the Apartheid regime, Mandela is in prison and the black children are forbidden to speak their own language, Xosa (you know, the click language... :)). Yet, Sarafina dreams. Her world brightens up when her class get a new teacher (Whoopi Goldberg), who teaches them about their worth and to be proud of their heritage. I fully recommend this movie, the actors, young and practically unheard of, are fantastic, the script is sharp, and the music! See this movie for the music alone. No Makeba, but lots of powerful political Soweto tunes. Go Sarafina!

I am not a South African, but I know how bad life was for them back then. People world over should understand that music is a way in which Africans best express their emotions, so making Sarafina! a musical added to the flavor of the movie. Sarafina! reigns supreme to this day, thanks to Whoopi and Leleti. The scenes shown are not exaggerated. (People were really beaten and killed brutally back then).

You'd need to watch more African movies(like Shaka Zulu, Ipintombi etc) to really appreciate the "music" part of it. Leleti Khumalo and Whoopi Goldberg hit home and act well together as a student and her dear teacher respectively. I wish we could have a sequel to it. All in all it is a GREAT movie and well acted.