Customer Reviews

Sarafina [VHS]

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

"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.

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!

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.

`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!

African music. Fantastic. Moving. Amazing just like the beautiful movie. Buy it.

This is a must see movie that is powerful and moving about the lives of South African students as a result of apartheid
It is a musical, but the musical bits are not overwhelming and do not take away from the story.
In fact they add great depth and meaning to the story
Although Whoopi Goldberg has top billing in the movie, the other cast members keep up and a couple of them supercede her star performance
If you have to add a movie to your bucket list, this is the one.
And I learned the songs by heart now because I watched so many times :)

This is an unusual film, an uplifting musical about a dark subject: The Soweto uprising, during which school children opposed the Apartheid government of South Africa. The film also portrays the resulting violent response from the government, and the morally ambiguous choices that must be made on the part of the characters. I would have preferred to see a South African actor in the Whoopi Goldberg role, but then we probably would never have seen the film. And she does a pretty good job. The music is wonderful, and the film is a good introduction to this chapter in South African history. I recommend it.

I first stumbled across this viodeo in a library in London. I have watched it time and time again. Its content are not fiction but reflections on the past lives of South African Blacks and their struggle for survival and liberation under the white apartheid regime.

If I were Black South African, I would have died alongside those freedom fighters who are not here today. This video can make you to shed tears whether you are white or black.

Injustice and maltreatment of human by fellow human can be counter productive. Watch Sarafina, own your copy and pay attention to Africa's continuous problems. Its about time the imparialists and colonialist feel guilty and sorry for their sins,
God bless Africa.

THE MOVIE AND THE MUSIC IS SO POWERFUL THAT YOU ARE READY TO GET UP AND GO OUT TO THE STREETS AND SCREAM FROM THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD TO WAKE UP AND FIGHT FOR THE JUSTICE OF ALL PEOPLE!!!
... ALSO, WATCH MALCOLM X, BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, ...

I am not going to go into explaining the plot. This is a great movie. Leleti Khumalo is an a talented actress. When the world finally recognizes her for the talented beauty she is....Look Out.

Please take the time to watch this movie. You wont regret it.