It’s a proud moment for the South African film industry after Sarafina! was officially selected for the Cannes Fim Festival’s Classics, 2023.
Global (12 May, 2023)—Three decades ago, Sarafina!—now a South African and global classic—shared an important message with our country and the world.
It was one of resilience; a fictional take on very real history—The Soweto Uprisings. Through music and film as a form of reflection and protest, Sarafina! captured a snapshot of South Africa’s fight for freedom while the long walk was still being walked.
In fact, Sarafina! began filming before Nelson Mandela had been released from Prison. Madiba was only released by the time the film had its premiere.
Sarafina! was first showcased at the Cannes Film Festival in 1992 where it started a new conversation about what film could mean and inspire. It was an incredibly powerful moment for the new South Africa that would dawn officially only two years later with Madiba’s Presidency.
Now, Sarafina! has been selected again by the Cannes Jury; this time as part of the Official Cannes Classics.
Of the journey back to the French Riveria, Leleti Khumalo (who played leading lady Sarafina!) shared:
“I am so excited to be going back there again. I remember in 1992, Sarafina! got a 20-minute standing ovation, it was so exciting. So I will be going back there to relive the moment, it is so exciting. Remember, Sarafaina! Is going to put South Africa on the global map, AGAIN!”—Leleti Khumalo.
Leleti starred in the Darrel Roodt-directed film alongside the likes of Whoopi Goldberg and John Kani (Black Panther, Murder Mystery 1 and 2, and The Lion King), and the film was produced by Anant Singh.
30 years strong, Sarafina! is still praised, holding its own as a representation of the truth that young people can be the greatest wind in the sails of change.
Of its relevance all these years later, Whoopi Goldberg shared:
“Keep talking to the kids because they are going to fix it, they are going make it happen, they are going to make change happen. They are not polite, they are not going to bend when they see something wrong and that’s what happened in the film, they just got tired and said no more.”
The Cannes Film Festival takes place from 16–27 May, and we couldn’t be more proud that Sarafina! will continue to be a force in future generations’ lives across the global stage.
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