Very well executed

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Apartheid from the touching perspective of a hopeful teenager dreaming and fighting for a better future for her generation.Sarafina! Is a brilliant adaptation of a 1988 Boadway musical narrating the struggles and hopes of a young South African student and her schoolmates during the controversial era of Apartheid, characterised by escalating violence and intolerance against the black community.It stars Hollywood star Whoopy Goldberg cast as Mary Masombuka, Sarafina's courageous teacher, imprisoned for daring to inspire her students to feel proud of their origin.In this film emerging actress Leleti Khumalo gives an exceptional interpretation of the leading character, a fierce, bright and optimistic young woman from Soweto.It also features singer Mariam Makeba cast as Angelina, Sarafina's mother, employed as a domestic servant by a white family in order to support financially her children living in a deprived area of Soweto.The remaining extraordinarily talented cast, mainly composed by internationally unknown South African actors, the powerful soundtrack, featuring a glorious "Freedom is coming" amongst other fabulous songs and the intensity of the dialogues, tackling controversial political and social issues, make this film a masterpiece not to be missed.Sarafina!thoroughly succeeds in depicting the tremendous power of education and knowledge for social and political change.I highly recommend it to everyone, especially young audiences for its powerful message on equality and hope for a brighter future.

Darrell James Roodt directed this superb film based on the 1988 Tony Award nominee for Best Musical and Best Actress in a Musical. A gripping drama depicting the apartheid struggle and subsequent student riots in Soweto, South Africa that is laced with fantastic songs and production numbers. The cast features Whoopi Goldberg, South African singing legend Miriam Makeba (Pata Pata) and the amazing Leleti Khumalo in the title role. Also watch for Robert Whitehead's chilling performance as a prison interrogator. Includes songs by the film's co-writer Mbongeni Ngema who also plays Constable Sabela in the film. Additional selections were written by Hugh Masekela (Grazing in the Grass). The energetic choreography is by Michael Peters (Thriller).

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.

I just didn't get this movie...Was it a musical? no..but there were choreographed songs and dancing in it...Was it a serious drama....no the acting was not good enough for that.Is Whoopi Goldberg a quality serious Actor..Definently not. I had difficulty staying awake through this disjointed movie. The message on apartheid and the "tribute" to the students who died during a student uprosing is noted. But as entertainment this was very poor and as a documentary style movie it was worse.See for yourself, but in fairness I hated it