Bopha! (1993)

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Cast | Notes | Pictures | Summary - Official |

Cast

Character	Actor
De Villiers	Malcolm McDowell
Micah Mangena	Danny Glover
Rosie Mangena	Alfre Woodard
Zweli Mangena	Maynard Eziashi
Pule Rampa	Malick Bowens
Philomen	Gift Burnett
Josiah Machikano	Fidelis Cheza
Solomon	Michael Chinyamurindi
Naledi Machikano	Christopher John Hall
Nonsizt	Peter Kampila
White Policeman #2	Stan Leih
Magubane	Sello Maake Ka-Ncube
Thokozile Machikano	Grace Mahlaba
Nemah	Mary Makwangwalala
Teacher	Zilla Mamansi
Mrs. Machikano	Anna Manyewe
White Policeman #1	Gavin Mey
Bantebe	Eric Miyeni
Mother #1	Bertha Msora
Black Policeman #1	Joseph Munyama
Priest	Akim Mwale
Old Woman	Winnie Ndemera
Samuel	Innocent Ngavaira
Mother #2	Jane Nhukarume
Police Commissioner	Eric Nobbs
Retleif	Robin Smith
Lucy Van Tonder	Julie Strijdom
Nkeala	Wilfred Tongarepi
Van Tonder	Marius Weyers

Directed by Morgan Freeman
Written by Percy Mtwa, Brian Bird & John Wierick

Notes

Filmed in 35 mm, Spherical Cinematographic process, Aspect ratio 1.85:1
Filmed in South Africa and Goromonzi & Harare, Zimbabwe.
Premiered at the Toronto Film Festival 9/17/93.
Screened 9/23/93, to benefit the Fund for Democratic Elections in South Africa, which raised funds for a voter registration drive.
Opened in the US 9/24/93.
Only grossed around $200,000.
Malcolm appeared on the Arsenio Hall Show promoting the film in 93
DVD was to be released on 11/16/04
Co-produced by Arsenio Hall Communications. The motion-picture producing debut for Arsenio Hall.
Directorial debut for actor Morgan Freeman. Motion-picture debuts also for producer Lawrence Taubman, co-producer Lori McCreary, and actors Christopher John Hall and Grace Mahlaba.
The title, Bopha is a Zulu word that means both "to detain" and "to arrest," and generally implies "resistance."
Filmed in Zimbabwe over a nine-week period. Color by DeLuxe. Dolby Stereo. Titles and opticals By Title House, Inc.
"Piri Wango Iya" and "No Money No Life" courtesy of Realworld Records Ltd./Virgin Records America, Inc.
"Senzeni Na," "Siyaya Epitoli," and "Mayibuye Iafrika" courtesy of The African National Congress Department of Arts and Culture.
"Tate Ge Ke Sa Sepela," "Hayo Inyhweba Ababayo" courtesy of The Methodist Publishing House of Capetown.
Dedicated In Memoriam to Kevin Greetham.

Based on the play by Percy Mtwa, which was first produced as a three-character play at Lincoln Center in 1986. A year later it was staged at the Los Angeles Theater Center. Two television productions about the play appeared: one a documentary by the BBC and the other a docudrama by PBS. The PBS docudrama mixed actual footage of black-on-black violence with scenes from the play and featured narration by Sidney Poitier. Before the play's European premiere, it was taken to the townships of South Africa, where Mtwa was able to speak with audiences about their own experiences.

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