Original subtitles

Downloaded from YTS.MX

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

[ thunder ]

[ thunder ]

[ train whistle blowing ]

[ thunder ]

[ shattering glass ]

[ dog barks distantly ]

[ baby crying ]

[ match being struck ]

Good morning, Nelson.

How many times do I tell you the same thing?

One day I'm going to eat one of you kids.

Sarafina, teach these children discipline.

What is it now, uncle?

Look at this monkey washing his face with a jack.

The jack is not for your beer.

The jack is for our morning tea.

[ speaking indistinctly ]

That's no way to talk to children.

The children are all full of shit.

You should stop spoiling them.

And you, Sarafina, you're too full of yourself.

You're getting too big for your boots.

Sarafina Queen of Soweto. Madam Beautiful.

CHILD 1: Sarafina, the sugar is finished!

CHILD 2: He took it all!

I saw it! I saw that too!

[ children arguing in native language ]

[ speaking in native language ]

CHILD: I wish you'd sleep and never wake up!

[ second child answers in native language ]

CHILD: Sarafina, I need a new exercise book.

The teacher told me.

Okay. Tell him this week I go to see Mama,

I bring back money to buy everything. Okay?

MAN: And don't forget my booze too.

SARAFINA: Ugh, is that all you can think of?

[ voices recede ]

Come on, Nelson.

Why can't I be a star?

What does a star do?

Nothing.

Look at the camera. Flash!

Smile at the camera. Flash!

Look at everybody. Big eyes.

Say nothing.

Stars don't do. Stars just be.

[ camera clicks ]

[ crowd shrieks ]

DIRECTOR: Sarafina, take 1! Action!

[ singing in native language ]

ALL: ♪ Sarafina

♪ Sarafina, you're the one

♪ Sarafina

[ singing in native language ]

♪ Sarafina

♪ Sarafina, you're the one

♪ Sarafina

♪♪ Sarafina, you're the one

♪ Sarafina

♪[ singing in native language ]

♪ Sarafina

♪ Sarafina, Please don't run away from me ♪

♪[ singing in native language ]

♪ Sarafina, Please don't run away from me ♪

♪ Sarafina

[ singing indistinctly ]

♪ While the temperature Begins to rise ♪

♪ Sarafina

♪ Sarafina, you're the one

♪ Sarafina

[ singing indistinctly ]

♪ Sarafina

♪♪ Sarafina, you're the one

♪ Sarafina

♪♪ Sarafina, you're the one

♪ Sarafina

♪ Sarafina, Please don't run away from me ♪

[ singing indistinctly ]

♪ Sarafina

♪ Sarafina

♪ Sarafina, Please don't run away from me ♪

[ singing indistinctly ]

♪[ singing in native language ]

♪ Sarafina, Please don't run away from me ♪

[ singing indistinctly ]

♪ Sarafina

♪ Sarafina, Please don't run away from me ♪

[ screaming ]

[ siren wails ]

[ whistles ]

[ speaking native language ]

Ha! It's that stupid Constable Sabela.

He really wants you, Sarafina.

Wants who?

[ speaking native language ]

Hey, where you spend last night, Sarafina?

In bed.In bed, eh?

Not running around the streets

and burning them schools, eh?

They burned the school?

Ah! They burned the school.

And where were you? In bed. Heh! I can imagine.

[ speaks native language ]

Give a smile for me, Sarafina.

Just a little bit. Nobody will know.

Oh, baby, baby, baby! Oh, Sarafina!

[ speaks native language ] Let's go.

[ speaks native language ]

[ siren wails ]

[ laughs ]

This is an act of mindless vandalism!

It is madness!

If anyone here is responsible for this,

I want to say this to you:

why don't you blow up your own brains?

Go ahead!

It's no different!

The schools are your only chance!

If you don't want education, do not come to school!

Burn the schools, and you have no future!

If anyone is responsible for this,

you're all crazy!

I don't understand you!

I don't like what you're doing,

and I want it to stop! All right?!

STUDENT: Yes.All right?!

STUDENT: Yes!

Miss Gerger is sick today.

Her classes will be taken over by Mr. Puenin.

Miss Masembuko would like volunteers

for the end-of-term concert.

She'll be in the music room after school today.

Is that all right?

Right, right. Right, principal.

All right. Right.

So, who leads the morning prayers today?

[ clears throat ]

Miss Masembuko.

[ students murmuring and laughing softly ]

[ silence ]

SARAFINA: Mary Masembuko, our very own teacher.

You'd love her, Nelson.

I just know you would.

She's beautiful, and she tells us the truth,

and she doesn't pretend she knows it all,

and they love her because she's crazy,

and she's not afraid.

♪ Hallowed

♪ Be thy name

♪ Our Father

♪ Which art in

♪ Which art in

♪ Which art in heaven

♪ Give us this day

♪ Our daily bread

ALL: ♪ Thy will be done As it is done in heaven ♪

♪ Hallowed

ALL: ♪ Be thy name

♪ Our Father

♪ Our Father Which art in heaven ♪

♪ Hallowed be thy name

♪ Thy will be done

♪ On Earth as it is in heaven

♪ Our Father Which art in heaven ♪

♪ Hallowed be thy name

♪ Thy will be done

Hey.♪ On Earth as it is in heaven

Let's go.

Ha.

♪ Our Father Which art in heaven ♪

♪ Hallowed be thy name

♪ Thy will be done

♪ On Earth as it is in heaven

♪ For thine is the kingdom

♪ The power and the glory

♪ For ever and ever Amen ♪

Mm-hm.

♪ For thine is the kingdom

♪ The power and the glory

♪ For ever

Our Father must be happy wherever he is.

You kids are just beautiful.

[ cheering ]

Jesus, just come down and listen to these voices.

♪ And

Did you hear that?

♪ Ever

Shout!

♪ Amen

Name of the first man in-- Wait for it!

Creation.

ALL: Adam.

Right, right, right, right.

And what color was Adam?

ALL: White.

White? Who says so?

I never saw that in the Bible.

Did you see it in the Bible? No. It doesn't say that.

It says, "God created man in his own image,"

which means to be like him.

So, what color is God? Give me a color, people.

Gold!BOY: Pink! Black!

Silver!Green!

Green! Green! I like green.

What kind of green? Pea green? Sea green?

Grass green? Olive green?

Emerald green? Jade green?

Green as the dollars in American wallets,

or green as the mists on the hills of Kinchasa?

God green, mankind green, yes! I like it.

So, what is the name

of the first man in South Africa?

Right, right, right.

Nobody knows his name.

What's the name of the first white man

in South Africa?

ALL [ in unison ]: Jan van Riebeeck.

Date?ALL: 1652.

History is so beautiful, it makes you cry.

[ laughter and talking ]

Here is Holland.

Here comes Jan van Riebeeck in his boat,

followed by lots of other boats,

and they're on their way to the East Indies

to fetch some spices,

but they're passing South Africa,

and they know that they're thirsty,

so they stop here for a drink.

Jan says, "hey, why don't I stay here

"and set up a refreshment stop?

"This way, it will be here

every time you pass by."

Good idea!

So that's what South Africa is for the whites:

a gas station stop on the way to somewhere else,

a Pepsi and a piss in the sun...

[ giggles ]

And it's, "let's go, fellas.

We can't stay here forever."

But some of them did. Right?

STUDENTS: Right!Right!

You think children would do a thing like this?

Oh, yes.

But why?

Well, they're being used, aren't they?

You see, children will believe anything.

A child will believe anything an adult tells him--

Father Christmas, talking animals,

Communism, anything.

To me, a school is a holy place,

like a church.

That's why I hate to see soldiers in this school.

Me too. Leave the kids out of it.

Let the men fight it out.

What about the teachers?

Any rotten apples there?

I don't know.

MARY: So now begins the great trek

of 1836.

The white boys are looking north.

They say, "what do you see?"

"We see great land, men, beautiful land!"

"Anybody there?"

"No. Just a few gaffers

sticking spears up each other's future."

"So, what do you say we make a trek?"

"Good idea."

And what does this bring to us?

Shambucks,

passbooks,

P.W. Botha.

Afrikaans lessons, and--

And democracy and justice

and very, very, very fine schools, yes.

[ laughs ] We're so lucky!

Isn't history beautiful?

ALL [ in unison ]: Yeah!

[ chattering ]

[ indistinct chatter ]

SARAFINA: There's this boy who wants to go out with me.

His name is Crocodile.

He thinks he's great. But I like him--

Except he burns down schools.

What's the future in that?

He'll take me to the movies,

and then he'll be in prison for 20 years.

You don't go in store.

You stay outside.

You don't hurt anybody.

We hurt the Boers' business.

Hey! Burn the store.

You want to hurt the Boers' business, burn it down!

It takes one man to burn a store.

It takes a thousand to close it down.

We need thousands!

We want the people awake, alive, angry!

That's it!

They don't want angry, they want quiet!

Mama goes to church,

Papa goes to the shebeen,

the kids play in the streets!

Burn it down!

They're not going to get a quiet life

so long as I'm around.

[ overlapping talking ]

I'm asking you

to help me...

for the sake of the children.

All it takes is a few troublemakers,

but they all pay the price,

all of them.

So I want you to help me

to identify these troublemakers.

What is this silence?

What does it mean, huh?

That you don't believe that there are any troublemakers?

Or that you don't want to help me, huh?

Huh?

You want us to tell you who firebombed the wall.

We don't know that.

Maybe you know some kids with bad attitudes

cursing the soldiers,

shouting, "viva Mandela!"

Sure.

So tell me.

All of them.

That's funny.

That's really funny, lady.

Maybe there's some teachers with bad attitudes,

teachers who teach children to hate

and burn and kill.

To me, that is worse than murder.

That is killing a child's soul.

None of my staff teach violence.

That is not enough!

Not for teachers who are responsible for young minds.

They have to reject violence.

They have to hate violence!

They have to tear it out by the roots!

We know there are people behind this trouble in the schools,

and we know where to look,

and believe me-- Believe me,

we're looking.

[ singing in South African language ]

Quiet, quiet, quiet! I'm here!

Better late than never.

Sarafina, Crocodile.

Here today is the plan, people.

You will do all the work,

and I go to sleep.

Have we got it all worked out then?

ALL: Yes!

Who needs a show?

I sing a song, everybody watches me.

Song about what?

SARAFINA: About me! What else?

MARY: We have six weeks.

Let's move it.

Hey! Train song! Stimela says!

[ cheering ]

[ singing in South African language ]

[ laughter and drumming ]

♪ This is the night For you and me ♪

♪ Aiy yo yo yo Hmm.

And just where is this train going?

Just going, mistress.

At 4:00 in the morning,

Stimela takes the men from their loved ones,

and at 6 in the evening,

the children are waiting for Stimela

to bring back their fathers and mothers.

Stimela says so.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. Yes, I see. Hmm.

So they come back?Sure, they come back.

A happy ending. I like that.

ALL: Mm-hmm.

I love happy endings.

You think of a happy ending,

and you've got a show.

BOY 1: Here's the story with a happy ending!

Killer disease comes to South Africa,

but only the Boers get it.

[ laughter ]

BOY 2: Mistress! Mistress! Gold!

We strike gold in Soweto, and we all get rich!

Jesus comes back!

[ laughter ]

Bah bah bah!

[ laughter ]

Mandela comes back!

Yes![ cheering ]

MARY: Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes!

Day of liberation.

Mandela comes home from prison.

I like that. I like it.

I play Nelson Mandela!

The speaker of the nation!

Why you?

Because I'm a man.

Okay. You want to know who plays Mandela?

Hmm?I play Mandela.

You are a girl.So what?!

MARY: Sarafina,

tell us what happens in your story, hmm?

The day Nelson Mandela walks free,

all the crowds, everyone laughing and singing.

Yes, Sarafina!

♪ Free at last

♪ Nelson Mandela

♪ Walking down The street of Soweto ♪

Yes! You got it!

And he speaks to the people.

Free at last! Nelson Mandela!

[ cheering ]Yes! Yes! Yes!

Yeah!

SARAFINA: Why can't I be you, Nelson,

just for the school concert,

just once make a big speech

just the way you do it?

Mandela free at last,

everybody clapping and cheering.

Mandela's free and I'm the star,

just for a day. Okay, Nelson?

Your day will come.

MARY: Hey, Sarafina.

Are you all right, mistress?

No, but what else is new?

It'll be all right in heaven, as they say.

Is there anything I can do?

Just stay as beautiful as you are.

You know, I liked your idea for the show.

Mandela free.

It would make a great show,

only...

Only they won't like it.

No, they won't.

So you're saying we shouldn't do it?

I'm saying it'll make trouble,

and right now they're looking for the troublemakers.

I know who the troublemakers are, mistress.

They get special training how to kill.

They have guns. I've seen them.Shh!

[ men talking outside ]

There's two of them.

[ Mary exhales ]

[ laughs ]

[ laughs ]

Hmm.

The Boers want everything quiet, right?

Everything under control.

Look! The keffeirs are quiet.

A quiet keffeir is a happy keffeir, man.

But we are not happy,

and we are not quiet,

and we are not under control.

So somebody better tell the Boers.

People don't like the boycott of the Boer stores.

They say we only hurt ourselves.

People say? What people?

People say, "do nothing."

People say, "what can we do?"

People say, "please, Mr. Boer, beat me again."

I say, bullshit. I say, fight!

[ overlapping talking ]

Okay, sure, fight, but don't fight the school!

What's the use of that?

The great school. The wonderful school.

You think they put us here for education?

This isn't education.

This is some way to keep us off the streets.

Miss Masembuko gives us education.

How long do you give her?

What do you mean?

Open your eyes, Sarafina.

People disappear.

Haven't you noticed?

Mary Masembuko's one crazy teacher.

How long will they let her alone

to corrupt our innocent minds?

[ overlapping talking ]

Sarafina, I'll pick you up

at your house later, okay?

What am I, your pasah?

You're my girl!Uh-uh.

What is it that she wants, China?

[ speaking native language ]

Maybe she's waiting for Michael Jackson.

I'm going to Pac Town to see my mother.

So? You coming back.

Today it's your lucky day!

Treat yourself.

You really do love yourself, don't you, Croc?

Sure, I do. Why not?

There's so much to love, baby.

So I'll come around your house later, okay?

You know, he's such a jerk, that one,

I almost like him.

What is it that you want, Sarafina?

China, you know how it is.

I want more.More what?

More than this.

[ muffled announcement over P.A. System ]

This store is owned by Boers.

We have to support each other!

Don't give your money to the Boers.

There's no law that says you have to show up here.

[ rumbles ][ brakes screech ]

Boycott the Boers!

[ overlapping yelling, singing, and shouting ]

Hey! Hey! Shut up!

You go home.

What's all this fooling with other people's business?

Why do you show up here, Mama?

Because I want to,

and I'm not your mama. Now, out of my way!

You want to give your money to the Boers?

You want to help them and not your own people?

You get out of my way!

You boys don't help no one!

All you do is make things bad!

What's your daddy doing,

letting you run wild like this?

My daddy is doing the same as you: nothing!

That's right!

That's why nothing changes, mama!

Leave my sugar! Leave my sugar!

[ rumbling ]

[ indistinct talking ]

SARAFINA: I want to tell you something, Nelson,

I can't tell anyone else.

Whenever I go to visit my mother,

I feel like I'm visiting another world

and that I don't belong there.

That's a bad feeling, right?

I feel like I belong somewhere else,

somewhere I've not even seen yet,

but I'll know it when I see it.

[ siren wailing ]

[ yelling and screaming ]

This other world is called Pac Town.

They keep the streets very clean in Pac Town.

Mama lives in a big white house.

Well, in a small room in the back, really.

But they treat her well.

They say, "oh, Angelina's just like one of the family."

"The children just love her.

You know how good these black women are with children."

Mama is good with children.

Only her children don't live here, do they?

Hello.Hi.

How are you?I'm fine.

Good.

[ humming ]

Mama.

Sarafina.

How are my babies?

Jabu is as naughty as always.

But everyone's fine, Mama.

Mama, I need some money.

Lindiwe has to have new shoes.

They split.

They're no good.

Have the Boers gone away?

Yes. Just for the afternoon.

How much money do you want?

Sarafina!

Sarafina!

Where do you think you are going?

Sarafina!

Sarafina, come back here!

A little refreshment, Mrs. Vandermoever.

The maid will take your coat.

Gin, brandy, rum?

Or perhaps you would like the maid

to mix you a refreshing lemonade?

Do sit down, Mrs. Vandermoever.

You walked all the way from the front gate

on your own legs.

Huh! You must be exhausted.

Next time, you wait by the gate,

and the maid will carry you.

No problem, my dear.

These black women are so strong.

That's enough, Sarafina!

Sometimes you're such a naughty little girl.

Sarafina!

Sarafina, where are you going now?

[ humming ]

Whoo!

Get off that bed, you silly girl!

Sarafina, come back here!

What's the matter with you anyway?

Have you gone crazy?

Yes, I've gone crazy.

You want me to lose my job?

Yes.

And who's gonna buy your school books?

School books are full of lies.

You're a stupid girl, Sarafina.

Get off that bed and show some sense.

I want to kill them.

Kill them? What for?

They are good people.

You've been a servant for too long, Mama.

Maybe that's because your papa's been dead too long.

Papa died fighting.

He did not die fighting.

He got sick in Mozambique, and he died.

He died for the struggle.

Oh, sure. He went away to be a hero,

and I stayed home to work.

Don't talk like that.

I've got four children and no man.

My children cannot eat glory.

We eat servant food.

Food is food. You want to starve?

Maybe.

The way you're going on,

you just might end up dead like your papa.

I'd rather die like him than live like you.

I've got work to do.

[ man shouting, boy screaming ]

[ indistinct shouting and screaming ]

[ laughs ]

I'm not your brother, okay?

I'm not your brother.

[ screaming ]

Eh, who's paying you? I'm not your brother!

I'm not your brother!

MAN: Sabela!Yes, sir!

Give him Prince.

Thank you, sir.

[ boy screaming ]

[ dog barking ]

Sic 'im! Sic 'im!

Go, Prince!

[ dog barking ]

[ men laughing ]

[ dog growling ]

[ screaming ]

Go on! Go on!

Aah! Aah!

Aah! Aah!

[ dog barking ]

[ shouting in native language ]

Ha, ha, ha![ dog barking ]

[ knocks on door ]

[ knocking ]

Unh!

It was Sabela.

They set a dog on me.

Our time will come.

I'll kill him!

And his bloody dog.

No need for killing.

When the people rise up,

you'll see him singing a new song...

when they march down commissioner street like a sea,

Constable Sabela will shit himself with fear,

and up will go his fist. "viva, Mandela, viva."

Oh, man, I'd love to see that.

[ singing in native language]

[ indistinct chatter ]

[ man whistles ]

[ wolf whistle ]

[ knocking ]

[ knocking ]

Miss Masembuko?

Sarafina.

Come in.

Give me a moment, okay?

Okay.

[ whispering ]

I love you.

MARY: I love you too.

Ow! Ooh!

Aah.

All right.

Please. Okay. Okay.

Next week?

I love you too. Okay.

Go, go. Okay. Bye.

Bye.

What happened?

The water spilled.

Oh, leave it. Give me.

Sit down.

So, Sarafina,

what brings you here?

Trouble at home?

The boys... they can fight.

What can I do?

There are other ways, Sarafina.

Like what?

You know what they say.

If you want to find a way,

you must first know where you're going.

No way.

That's not true.

What do you want?

What do you want, mistress?

Me?

I want very many things.

I want the war to be over.

I want the hate to be over.

I want my Joe back in my arms.

I want quiet days and loving nights.

I want babies.

I want to come home to kindness.

Would you believe me if I told you

this was not mine?

Yes.

I've never even held it in my hands.

It's Joe's.

He uses it?

He has done.

I won't tell anyone.

I meant what I said.

I hate the killing.

I hate the violence.

But I cannot stand aside

and let others die for me.

I will fight too.

I can't kill.

Don't ask me to kill.

It's the same old argument.

What if they come for you...

Come to the door...

kick it in?

Do you reach for the gun?

Do you shoot?

Do I?

I don't know.

I don't know.

[ thunder rumbles in the distance ]

[ thunder ]

[ thunder ]

[ crashing ]

[ children screaming ]

[ yelling ]

[ yelling continues ]

Get in. Get in!

Get in there! Oh, shut up,

the rest of you!

[ helicopter hovering ]

[ children crying ]

PRINCIPAL: It's no more than rumors, but in the present climate,

we must listen to everything.

I've given Lieutenant Bloem my firm opinion which is:

you are a responsible teacher

who would do nothing to harm the children.

Am I right?

Oh, yes, principal.

Mary, do you teach the children Communism?

No, principal.

Do you teach them violent revolution?

No, principal.

Do you teach the authorized syllabus, Miss Masembuko?

Yes.

With additional material of your own?

Yes.PRINCIPAL: Mary...

you have to follow the authorized syllabus.

You know that.

And what is this, um, additional material?

I want them to know where they come from.

I want them to have a sense of pride in themselves.

Black pride.

If you will.

You're playing with fire.

Would you rather they were ashamed of themselves?

I'll tell you what I'd rather.

I'd rather they be left in peace to go to school,

get an education, get a chance in life,

not get their heads stuffed with crazy dreams.

Like maybe one day there won't be police at the school?

Like maybe one day we won't be afraid of each other?

PRINCIPAL: Mary, you're a fine teacher.

I don't want to lose you.

Follow the authorized syllabus from now on, please,

and nothing else.

Right, principal.

PRINCIPAL: I don't think we have anything else to say, do we, lieutenant?

Just a small piece of advice.

Don't think that we're all idiots. Okay?

That would be a mistake.

Somebody in this room has got the wrong idea,

and that person talks too much.

So listen, huh?

I do not teach Communism.

I teach history.

And history is a beautiful thing.

Do you know why?

STUDENTS: No.

Because history teaches you where you come from.

I want you to know this.

I want you to be proud of what we got right

and tell the truth about what we got wrong

and learn from it.

Otherwise, what's the use of tomorrow?

If you don't learn,

all you've got is today and today and today.

And you're much better than that, people.

Believe me.

Believe me.

Okay?

STUDENTS: Yes.

[ church bell tolls ]

[ indistinct chatter ]

Ha, ha, ha!

Jabu, come back here! Jabu!

Jabu!

SARAFINA: We knew there was an informer,

Guitar, of all people, the quietest boy in the class.

Guitar, why?

I felt sick inside.

Sarafina, beautiful mama, pretty thing, baby. Mmuh!

Put Jabu down!

Hey. Hey, take it easy.

Why don't you take out your shambuck and beat me?

Did I ever hurt you?

Leave me alone!

Oh, baby, when did I ever give you anything but sweet words?

Jabu, go back to the others.

You know what? If I was a man, I would kill you.

Me? Why kill me?

Everybody loves Sabela,

except the trash in the streets.

You see I sweep away the streets for you, sweetheart.

I make the streets clean for you

so you can walk so pretty.

Our day will come.

Sure it will, but you'll be needing policemen.

You see, everybody needs policemen.

Not that like you.

Oh, so I'm the bad man, am I?

[ mutters in native language ]

Princess, here. You be the policeman.

You beat me. Okay?

Come on. Go ahead.

Those kids burnin' the schools. You let them go free.

Those kids driving the stores out of business.

You let them go free too.

Those mobs running around the streets looting and killing.

Let them go free.

Be the policeman. I'm the bad man.

Okay? Beat me. Come on.

[ snickers ] You need me, princess.

You need me.

[ indistinct chatter ]

[ guitar notes play ]

[ indistinct chatter ]

What's wrong?

You've been talking.Talking?

You've been talking to the wrong people.

What wrong people?Police wrong people!

Who says that? It's a lie!

SARAFINA: I saw you with Sabela. Don't lie to us.

Tell us why.

You can talk! You're not dumb!

SARAFINA: Put him down, Crocodile!

You live here with your father, don't you?

He's sick, isn't he?

His legs are no good.

He's a cripple.

Is he home?

Just tell us why, Guitar.

What you goin' to do to me?

You have to tell us why first.

One day I came home from school,

and I found my dad lying in the rubbish outside.

He was trying to crawl, but he couldn't move.

His fingers were bleeding

from trying to drag himself through the dirt.

He had been laying there for hours,

but he didn't cry out for help

because his pride would not let him.

He laid there waiting for me.

Then hecame--

Sabela--

Constable Sabela.

He told me that my dad was no good,

that he couldn't work, and that in the old days,

men like him were taken out into the bush and left to die.

He said, next time, maybe he will do that--

take him out into the bush and leave him there to die.

He said he will do this unless I helped him.

I thought of him--

my dad--out in the bush...

calling, not moving.

Just calling.

What was I supposed to do?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

It's okay, Guitar.

It's okay.

Can I go in?

[ strums chords ]

[ dramatic theme playing]

The Napoleonic War--

that is what the syllabus says,

so that is what I teach.

So, what do we learn from this?

Napoleon's army-- the best equipped,

the best-trained army,

the most powerful army on the continent....

everybody says they cannot be beaten.

So, what happens?

Fft! They gone.

Why? Were they beaten in battle?

No. They were defeated by the people.

The--[ footsteps ]

Oh, my God.

People can defeat the armies.

History has proved it.

People can defeat the armies.

You. Come.

There's something at my house which I don't need anymore.

Get rid of it for me.

[ students yelling ]

[ yelling stops ]

Listen. One day this is going to be all right.

You know me.

I love a happy ending.

Let's go.

[ students yelling ]

[ dramatic theme playing]

[ grandmother yelling ]

Good morning.

STUDENTS: Good morning, sir.

I am replacing your regular teacher

for the rest of the term.

Sir.Yes?

Why have they taken Miss Masembuko?

That's none of my business and none of your business.

We won't touch the subject again. Is that clear?

We are here to do history.

How far have you got? Somebody show me.

Hmm.

The Napoleonic Wars. Right?

Why did the Russian campaign of 1812 fail?

What defeated them?

The people, sir.

I said "what," not "who."

[ sighs ]: The winter.

Napoleon hadn't reckoned with the Russian winter.

He thought his army was safe in Moscow,

but the people in Moscow

had burnt down their city before he could get there.

So it was the people.Burning.

The people burned their own houses

rather than let the army win. That's what you're teaching us.

I am teaching you authorized syllabus--

the decision to burn Moscow.

Burn, burn, burn!

Burn, burn, burn!

STUDENTS: Burn, burn, burn!

Burn, burn, burn!

Burn, burn, burn! Burn, burn, burn!

Burn, burn, burn!Silence! I will have silence!

Burn, burn, burn!Sit down!

I will have silence!

Burn, burn, burn!Sit down!

Go back! You have to sit down!

Burn, burn, burn!Go back! Go back!

Burn, burn, burn!Go back! Go back! Go back!

Burn, burn, burn! Burn, burn, burn!

Come on! Come on!

[ guns cock ]

[ students chanting ]

[ shouting indistinctly ]

SOLDIER: Shoot them! Come on, shoot 'em!

Start firing!

MAN: No!

[ crowd shouting indistinctly ]

[ gunshot ]

Aah! Aah! Aah! Aah!

[ gunshots ]

[ grunting ]

Yeah! Yeah!

[ screams ]

[ screaming ]

[ screaming ]

[ choral pop music playing]

[ crowd chanting in native language ]

FUNERAL LEADER: They fear you because you are young.

They fear you because you are the future.

How fearful they must be that they shoot you children.

How powerful you must be that they fear you so much.

You are powerful because you are the generation

that will be free.

The violence, the beatings, the torture, the killings--

all this is the birth pain of our free nation.

Please, god, may I live to see it...

but if I don't, I see it now on your faces

like the light of the risin' sun,

and my heart lifts within me,

as if I, too, was young again.

And I know-- oh, yes, I know--

freedom is coming tomorrow.

[ chanting in native language ]

May our children rest in peace.

Ashes to ashes,

dust to dust.

[ singing in native language ]

WOMAN: ♪ Amen, amen, amen

CHORUS: ♪ Amen

[ woman singing in native language ]

[ singing in native language ]

WOMAN: ♪ Amen, amen, amen

CHORUS: ♪ Amen

[ woman singing in native language ]

WOMAN: ♪ Amen, amen

[ woman singing in native language ]

♪ Hallelujah

[ girl singing in native language ]

♪ Oh

♪ My lord

♪ Amen

[ chorus singing in native language ]

GIRL: ♪ Yes, Jesus, oh, no

♪ Freedom is coming Tomorrow ♪

♪ Get ready, mama Prepare for your freedom ♪

♪ Freedom is coming Tomorrow ♪

♪ Get ready, mama Prepare for your freedom ♪

♪ Freedom is coming Tomorrow ♪

♪ Freedom is coming Tomorrow ♪

ALL: Hey!

[ cheering and whistling ]

[ singing in native language ]

This is your last warning.

Clear the area immediately.

[ marchers chanting in native language ]

Disperse now.

[ all chanting in native language ]

You have 60 seconds to clear the area.

You must go home now.

[ all chanting in native language ]

Disperse now.

[ all chanting in native language ]

[ all screaming ]

[ all chanting in native language ]

SOLDIER: That's it! Come on!

[ children chanting in native language ]

[ dramatic theme playing]

Sabela, please don't kill me!

[ yelling in native language ]

No, please!

[ Sabela yelling in native language ]

Please don't kill me!

I didn't want to do it!

[ yelling in native language ]

[ brakes screech ]

[ dramatic theme playing]

Was it Sabela?

Yes.

Because you wouldn't talk?

[ crowd yelling in native language ]

MAN: Sabela! We know you're in there!

WOMAN: Come out!

[ woman yelling in native language ]

[ dramatic theme playing]

[ shouting in native language ]

MAN: You're dead! Get away!

SARAFINA: I was there. I was one of them.

He looked at me, and I thought I couldn't do it,

I thought of Crocodile dying in front of my eyes.

I thought of Mary. I thought of my mother.

I thought of my drunk uncle even.

I thought of my life. What life?

They had pushed us too far.

They had stopped treating us like humans,

and we had to take a stand some way.

[ Sabela screaming ]

[ people shouting indistinctly ]

[ helicopter engine whirring ]

Yaahh! Yaahh! Yaahh!

Yaahh! Yaahh! Yaahh!

Yaahh!

[ dogs barking ]

MAN: No! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!

SOLDIER: Get in!

Right, into that pickup now! Get in! Get in there!

[ woman screaming ]

MAN 1: Get the police van! get the police--

MAN 2: Go, go!

In the van! In the van!

[ man yelling in native language ]

[ shouting continues ]

[ blows being delivered ]

[ woman screaming ]

[ indistinct shouting ]

[ choral pop music playing]

[ chorus singing in native language]

Come on! Come on!

[ shouts in African language ]

Let's go!

[ choral pop music continues]

Hey, Luther. I want an article right now.

Bloody chaos, lieutenant.

Tell Bloem to get the rooms ready.

[ shouts indistinctly ]

GUARD: Shut up!

[ cell door closes ]

[ speaks African language ]

[ door slams shut ]

MAN: Do you go to school?

Yes.

So why aren't you in school?

Why aren't you in school?

Because of the soldiers.

Soldiers don't stop you from studying.

Answer my questions, ma'am.

You didn't ask a question.

How do the soldiers stop you from studying?

By killing us.

You're not dead.

Are you dead?

No.

So why aren't you in school?

My friends are dead.

Your friends?

The students who attacked the soldiers are your friends?

Students who murdered a constable last night,

they're your friends?

Is that how your friends behave...

like wild animals?

Where were you last night?

At home.

Do you know how Constable Sabela was murdered?

A mob of children burned him to death.

Did you know that?

I heard.

So, what do you think about it?

Nothing.

Nothing.

Do you think...

burning a man to death is nothing?

Hey!

What's going on in the schools, huh?

Somebody's looking for trouble, aren't they?

Are you looking for trouble?

You don't have to look for trouble.

What's that?

We don't have to look for trouble.

Trouble finds you, huh?

Our life is trouble.

So whose fault is that?

Who's making the trouble?

We're not completely stupid, you know.

School kids don't just come up with this stuff

out of their own heads.

We know you're being used.

Do you know Mary Masembuko?

She's my teacher.

Was.

What do you mean?

She killed herself.

Did you ever go to her house?

Did you ever meet Joe Masembuko?

How did she die?

She jumped out the window.

Tenth floor.

You didn't have to kill her.

I told you, she killed herself.

She wanted to die.

No.

I knew her.

She wanted...

She wanted so much.

So you knew her pretty well, huh?

I loved her.

Yeah. So you can help me, can't you?

Did you meet anyone else at her house?

All right.

Now you listen to me, girlie,

and you listen hard.

I don't give a shit how young you are.

You throw a bomb at me,

I'm gonna kill you.

You try to burn down my house,

I'm gonna kill you.

You make war on mycountry,

I'm gonna kill you.

You think you got the whole of black Africa

just waiting to roll on over us, eh?

You try it.

Just try it.

We're ready for you.

So...

let's just stop horsing around, eh?

Tenth floor.

[ door slams shut ]

SARAFINA: I killed a man, Nelson.

Is that what you want?

DidI kill him?

I was there. I wanted to kill him.

I saw his eyes.

I hated him so much, I wanted to kill him.

But then I saw his eyes.

See what they've done to me, Nelson?

They've filled me up with hate, but not enough.

I have to be so full of hate,

there's no room for anything else.

Make me numb, Nelson.

Make me numb.

[ woman screams ]

You're not there, are you?

You can't hear me.

You can't hear anyone.

You've gone away.

We just dreamed you.

You've been away too long, Nelson.

You're old now,

and your children are dying,

and you can't hear us.

[ "Safa Saphel' Isizwe" playing]

[ chorus singing in native language]

They took me to a prison, and they beat me.

When I cried,

they put their biggest gun in my mouth

so I wouldn't cry.

Then they covered my head with a wet sack

and gave me the electricity.

I cried like a little babe holding the gun in my mouth.

GIRL: He took me to a room

full of dead bodies.

He said he would leave me with them.

I began to cry.

He took my face, then turned it to the light...

and he laughed.

And he said,

"Look, your eyes are pissing."

GUARD: Come on.

BOY: He shouted my name.

He pointed at me.

"Come to me, boy."

I was so afraid I couldn't speak.

I walked slowly towards him.

When I was close,

he hit me hard, here.

It hurt so much

I screamed and fell to the ground.

He pointed at me again.

"Come to me, boy."

I was still crying. I knew he would hit me again.

I put my hands here

so it wouldn't hurt so bad,

but he hit me again.

It hurt so bad I couldn't cry anymore.

There were many of us, all from my school.

They took us to a big room.

They told us to take off our clothes,

all our clothes.

They told us to lie down on the floor.

Then many police came in.

They whipped us with shambucks until we bled.

When they were tired, more police came in.

They whipped us again, and we bled more.

This time is called the state of emergency,

1986.

8,000 children in the prisons.

They hurt us to make us fear them.

We fear them,

but we do not forget.

We are still children.

We are young and full of fear.

But every day we grow older.

Every day we grow stronger.

We do not forget.

[ coughs ]: Again.

Aah![ electricity crackling ]

Uhh!

[ moans painfully ]

MAN: That's enough, sergeant.

[ groans ]

Again.

[ Sarafina screams ]

[ horn honks ]

SARAFINA: They call it teaching us a lesson.

Like school. They taught us their lesson

and then one by one, they let us go.

And what was their lesson?

To be like them?

To torture and kill?

To hate them more than they hate us?

I don't want to be like them.

I had a wonderful teacher,

but they took her from me.

I want to be like her.

She knew there had to be a better way.

I want to be free now, Nelson...

free from the hating and the killing.

I want to live my life with the people I love.

[ tender theme playing]

CHILDREN: ♪ Happy birthday to you

♪ Happy birthday to you

♪ Happy birthday Dear Natasha ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you

[ speaking native language ]

[ gasps ]

You poor child.

You poor child.

I came to you first, mama.

Where else but your mama?

Mama, I'm sorry.Hush now.

I want you to forgive me, mama.

Hush. No need for that now.

I was a stupid child before.

I know better now.

Well, what do Iknow?

You are strong, mama.

You survive.

You work for all of us.

Nobody makes songs about you.

Nobody tells you you are a hero,

but you are, mama.

You are a hero.

Why are you saying all that?

I'm no different from all the other women.

No.

We just go on the best we can.

Yes.

No heroes. No heroes.

There you are. One of the children--

Are you all right?

Just fine, ma'am.

Don't worry. I'll manage.

I killed a man, mama.

A policeman.

All of us did.

I hated him.

I wanted him to die.

They make us hate them, mama.

That's what they're doing to us.

My baby.

Let me get you something to eat...

make you strong, hmm?

You make me strong, mama.

Always, you make me strong.

That's what a mother is for.

Thank you, mama.

[ "Thank You, Mama" playing]

♪ Leading the struggle With nothing in your hands ♪

♪ Can bring confusion In the family ♪

♪ I miss those days Of jubilation ♪

[ woman singing in native language]

[ chorus singing in native language]

♪ Days of happiness ♪ Days of happiness

♪ When families sat Around the fire ♪

♪ Those were the days Of stability ♪

[ woman singing in native language]

[ chorus singing in native language]

♪ I wanna thank you, mama

♪ Thank you, baby

CHORUS: ♪ Thank you, mama For everything ♪

♪ That you have done for me

WOMAN: ♪ It was my responsibility

♪ Since I was a little girl

♪ When I was Laying on your back ♪

♪ Taking me to church

♪ Well, mama I wanna thank you, mama ♪

♪ Mama, mama, mama Mama, mama, mama ♪

♪ Thank you, thank you, Thank you, thank you, baby ♪

♪ Yah

GIRL: Sarafina is home!

[ speaking in native language ]

Sarafina! Sarafina!

Oh, my girl.

[ speaks in native language ]

[ laughs ]

[ thunder ]

[ tender theme playing]

[ thundering ]

MARY: I meant what I said.

I hate the killing.

I hate the violence.

But I cannot stand aside and let others die for me.

I will fight, too.

I can't kill.

Don't ask me to kill.

SARAFINA: What doyou want, mistress?

MARY: Me?

I want very many things.

I want the war to be over.

I want the hate to be over.

I want my Joe back in my arms.

I want quiet days and loving nights.

I want babies.

I want to come home to kindness.

Freedom is just the beginning.

Think bigger, like your idea for the school play.

The prison door opens.

The prisoner walks free.

What then?

[ guitar strumming ]

Sarafina!Hi, Guitar.

I've come to do the concert.

But the concert was cancelled.

We can sing our song.

There is no concert, Sarafina.

Let's go, please?

Where to?

School hall. That's where we do the concert.

But the school hall burnt down.

I just want to sing our song, Guitar.

Just once.

Can you imagine that day?

Millions of people waiting in a big field in Soweto.

The whole place vibrating.

Dust rising to the skies.

Air filled with the sound of laughter.

Waiting for Mandela.

Waiting for Mandela.

SARAFINA: My people!

Today I am free!

I am free because you never forgot me.

The day is coming when we will all be free.

Free from hatred!

Free from fear!

Free from killing!

You are young. You'll live to see the day.

And if I don't live to see the day,

you better believe it--

I'll be there.

This is my home, and I'm home to stay.

[ audience cheering ]

[ "Freedom is Coming Tomorrow" playing]

Ha ha!

ALL: ♪ Freedom is coming tomorrow

♪ Get ready, mama Prepare for your freedom ♪

♪ Freedom is Coming tomorrow ♪

♪ Get ready, mama Prepare for your freedom ♪

♪ Freedom is Coming tomorrow ♪

[ woman singing in native language ]

♪ Freedom is Coming tomorrow ♪

[ singing in native language ]

♪ Freedom is coming Tomorrow ♪

♪ Freedom is coming Tomorrow ♪

♪ Freedom is coming Tomorrow ♪

ALL: Hey!

[ James Ingram's "One More Time" playing]

[ chorus singing in native language]

♪ Don't look back

♪ Don't be scared

♪ We've got dreams And we're still young ♪

♪ Just think about How far we've come ♪

♪ Think of all We have shared ♪

♪ It's a wonder We survived ♪

♪ But here we are, And we're alive ♪

♪ Can we hold on, hold on

♪ Take a moment to celebrate

♪ Oh-oh

♪ Now, before we are gone

♪ Take a moment to celebrate

♪ We gotta celebrate

♪ There's a music In the wind ♪

♪ Let's dance one more time

♪ One more time

♪ There's a rhythm Deep within ♪

♪ Let's dance one more time

♪ One more time

♪ One more time

♪ Sing a song

♪ There's a power In our voices ♪

♪ Hopeful and strong

♪ Years from now

♪ Somewhere down the line

♪ We'll remember And we'll all sing ♪

♪ One more ♪ One more time

♪ One more ♪ One more time

♪ One more ♪ Sing a song

♪ Sing a song

♪ There's a power In our voices ♪

♪ Hopeful and strong

♪ Wanna live ♪ Years from now

♪ Somewhere ♪ Somewhere down the line

♪ We'll remember

♪ All sing

♪ One more time

♪ Time, time, time

♪ Oh, sing a song