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{{Short description|1993 American film by Morgan Freeman}}
{{Redirect|Bopha|tropical cyclones|Typhoon Bopha (disambiguation){{!}}Typhoon Bopha}}
{{Redirect|Bopha|the tropical cyclones|List of storms named Bopha}}
{{more citations needed||date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox film | name = Bopha!
{{Infobox film | name = Bopha!
| image = Bophaposter.jpg
| image = Bophaposter.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Morgan Freeman]]
| director = [[Morgan Freeman]]
| producer = [[Lawrence N. Taubman]]
| producer = Lawrence N. Taubman
| screenplay = {{Plainlist|
| writer = [[Brian Bird]]<br>[[John Wierick]]
* [[Brian Bird]]
⚫
| starring = {{Plain list |
* John Wierick
}}
| based_on = {{based on|''Bopha!''|Percy Mtwa}}
⚫
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Danny Glover]]
* [[Danny Glover]]
* [[Malcolm McDowell]]
* [[Malcolm McDowell]]
* [[Alfre Woodard]]
* [[Alfre Woodard]]
* [[Marius Weyers]]}}
* [[Marius Weyers]]}}
| music = [[James Horner]]
| music = [[James Horner]]
| cinematography = [[David Watkin (cinematographer)|David Watkin]]
| cinematography = [[David Watkin (cinematographer)|David Watkin]]
| editing = [[Neil Travis]]
| editing = [[Neil Travis]]
| studio = Arsenio Hall Communications
| distributor = [[Paramount Pictures]]
| distributor = [[Paramount Pictures]]
| released = September 17, 1993 (Toronto International Film Festival)<br>September 24, 1993 (USA)
| released = {{Film date|1993|09|17|[[1993 Toronto International Film Festival|TIFF]]|1993|09|24|United States}}
| runtime = 120 minutes
| country = United States
| runtime = 120 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English
| budget =
| budget = $12 million
| preceded_by =
| gross = $212,483
| followed_by =
}}
}}
'''''Bopha!''''' is a 1993 American [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] the [[directorial debut]] of [[Morgan Freeman]], and stars [[Danny Glover]]. It was adapted from a 1986 [[Play (theatre)|play]] of the same name.
'''''Bopha!''''' is a 1993 American [[drama film]] directed by [[Morgan Freeman]] and starring [[Danny Glover]]. It is Freeman's directorial debut. It was adapted from a 1986 play of the same name.


==Story==
==Story==
Micah Mangena is a [[black (people)|black]] [[police officer]] in [[South Africa]] during the [[History of South Africa in the apartheid era|apartheid era]]. Micah is tough but honest, and he believes he is doing the best for his people. He is a sergeant, with a white superior officer and in a mostly-black force. You see him training new recruits, all of them black.
Micah Mangena is a [[black (people)|black]] [[police officer]] in [[South Africa]] during the [[History of South Africa in the apartheid era|apartheid era]]. Micah is tough but honest, and he believes he is doing the best for his people. He is a sergeant, with a white superior officer and in a mostly-black force. He trains new recruits, all of them black.


His son, Zweli Mangena is in a difficult position - Micah wants him to become a policeman and follow his example. Zweli loves his father, but has doubts about whether it is right to follow in his father's footsteps.
His son, Zweli Mangena is in a difficult position – Micah wants him to become a policeman and follow his example. Zweli loves his father, but has doubts about whether it is right to follow in his father's footsteps.


Wider events are barely seen, though they obviously have an influence. In 1986, when the play was written, [[Nelson Mandela]] was still in prison. By 1993, when the film was released, he was free but the future was still very uncertain. ''Bopha'' says little about such matters. This is a conflict in a small township involving people of which the outside world would not have heard.
Wider events are barely seen, though they obviously have an influence. In 1986, when the play was written, [[Nelson Mandela]] was still in prison. By 1993, when the film was released, he was free but the future was still very uncertain.


==Plot==
==Plot==
{{more plot|date=September 2015}}
{{more plot|date=September 2015}}
The film opens with a black crowd burning alive a black police officer, from a nearby ghetto that they regard as a traitor. It then switches to the peaceful home of Micah Mangena, a black sergeant in the [[South African Police]].
The film opens with a black crowd burning alive a black police officer, from a nearby ghetto that they regard as a traitor. It then switches to the peaceful home of Micah "Baba" Mangena, a black sergeant in the [[South African Police]].


His son Zweli Mangena increasingly questions Micah belief and Micah's wish that Zweli would follow him into the police. Micha's wife also has doubts as the once-peaceful township gets polarised and her neighbours start treating her as an enemy.
His son Zweli Mangena increasingly questions Micah belief and Micah's wish that Zweli would follow him into the police. Micha's wife also has doubts as the once-peaceful township gets polarised and her neighbours start treating her as an enemy.
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==Reception==
==Reception==
The film holds a score of 82% on review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]], based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 7.0/10.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bopha! |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bopha |access-date=August 24, 2023 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media]]}}</ref> It was a [[box office bomb]], grossing only $212,483 against the production budget of $12 million.
The film received positive reviews from critics and audiences, earning a [[Rotten Tomatoes]] approval rating of 80%.


==DVD release==
==DVD release==
The film was released as a DVD in 2005 and has a running-time of 114 minutes, 6 minutes less than the film.
The film was released as a DVD in 2005 and has a running-time of 114 minutes, 6 minutes shorter than the theatrical version.

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{Imdb title|id=0106464|title=Bopha!}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0106464|title=Bopha!}}
* {{Mojo title|bopha}}
* {{Mojo title|bopha}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|bopha}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|bopha}}
* {{tcmdb title|69368|Bopha!}}
* {{TCMDb title|69368|Bopha!}}


⚫
[[Category:Apartheid films]]
[[Category:1993 films]]
[[Category:1993 films]]
[[Category:Directorial debut films]]
[[Category:1993 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:1990s drama films]]
[[Category:1993 drama films]]
[[Category:Apartheid in South Africa]]
[[Category:1990s American films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:American drama films]]
[[Category:American films based on plays]]
⚫
[[Category:Apartheid films]]
[[Category:Films about father–son relationships]]
[[Category:Films directed by Morgan Freeman]]
[[Category:Films directed by Morgan Freeman]]
[[Category:Films scored by James Horner]]
[[Category:Films scored by James Horner]]
[[Category:Films shot in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Films shot in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:African-American films]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures films]]
[[Category:Works about apartheid in South Africa]]

Latest revision as of 03:35, 16 December 2024

"Bopha" redirects here. For the tropical cyclones, see List of storms named Bopha.
Bopha!
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMorgan Freeman
Screenplay by
Based onBopha!
by Percy Mtwa
Produced byLawrence N. Taubman
Starring
CinematographyDavid Watkin
Edited byNeil Travis
Music byJames Horner
Production
company
Arsenio Hall Communications
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release dates
  • September 17, 1993 (1993-09-17) (TIFF)
  • September 24, 1993 (1993-09-24) (United States)
Running time
120 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$12 million
Box office$212,483

Bopha! is a 1993 American drama film directed by Morgan Freeman and starring Danny Glover. It is Freeman's directorial debut. It was adapted from a 1986 play of the same name.

Story

[edit]

Micah Mangena is a black police officer in South Africa during the apartheid era. Micah is tough but honest, and he believes he is doing the best for his people. He is a sergeant, with a white superior officer and in a mostly-black force. He trains new recruits, all of them black.

His son, Zweli Mangena is in a difficult position – Micah wants him to become a policeman and follow his example. Zweli loves his father, but has doubts about whether it is right to follow in his father's footsteps.

Wider events are barely seen, though they obviously have an influence. In 1986, when the play was written, Nelson Mandela was still in prison. By 1993, when the film was released, he was free but the future was still very uncertain.

Plot

[edit]

The film opens with a black crowd burning alive a black police officer, from a nearby ghetto that they regard as a traitor. It then switches to the peaceful home of Micah "Baba" Mangena, a black sergeant in the South African Police.

His son Zweli Mangena increasingly questions Micah belief and Micah's wish that Zweli would follow him into the police. Micha's wife also has doubts as the once-peaceful township gets polarised and her neighbours start treating her as an enemy.

The initial issue is the use of Afrikaans in the all-black school. The school children speak English, Afrikaans and their own African language, but they resent being taught Afrikaans. To reply in English is an act of rebellion.

Zweli dislikes the system but fears the consequence of open opposition. He arranges a meeting between some of the hot-heads and Pule Rampa, a respected figure who has been in prison for anti-Apartheid activities. He seems to be trying to calm the situation, but the police have learned of the gathering and break it up, arresting some of the students and also Pule Rampa. He had been trying to slip away quietly, but Micah anticipates this and arrests him. Micah is in charge of the operation and has attempted moderation, letting some of the students go free.

Micah wants to conduct his own questioning. But two members of South Africa's Special Branch have recently arrived and take over. They employ much more brutal methods. Both Micah and his white superior suggest to the Special Branch men that they are perhaps provoking opposition rather than quelling it, by torturing and hanging Pule in his cell.

The situation does indeed escalate. Micah and Zweli are increasingly on opposite sides of a widening gap, even though each of them genuinely cares for the other.

Reception

[edit]

The film holds a score of 82% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 7.0/10.[1] It was a box office bomb, grossing only $212,483 against the production budget of $12 million.

DVD release

[edit]

The film was released as a DVD in 2005 and has a running-time of 114 minutes, 6 minutes shorter than the theatrical version.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Bopha!". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
[edit]
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