Two South Africans set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock 'n' roller, Rodriguez.
The tale is better than the telling – and the soundtrack’s better still – but music this monumental demands its moment. Now go and buy the album.
What follows is a story as heart-warming as it is genuine, as the humble Rodriguez gets his long overdue recognition on a triumphant return to South Africa.
Although we learn more about Rodriguez, some questions about the artist and his family hang in the air after the credits roll. Nevertheless, this is a remarkable tribute to uncompromising talent and fiercely devoted fandom.
The film picks up the quest of two fans as they set out to find out how he really died. What they unearth is a bizarre story, one that is more mundane than the legend but also more magical and enduring.
While one has the nagging sense that there are other layers of the tale yet to be uncovered, and Rodriguez's music, a little bit Dylan, very 1970s, isn't quite the revelation one expects, this is a highly satisfying watch.
An absorbing and uplifting doc that rivals Catfish for sheer stranger-than-fiction thrills. Great soundtrack, too.
This movie might itself make a modest contribution to rewriting the history of white South Africa.
One of the most uplifting documentaries in recent memory.
The film will probably sink without trace in the multiplexes but it’s sure to endure as a word-of-mouth hit, much like the man himself.
Strange story of a rocker's return hits the sweet spot.
Engrossing.
Seek this one out.
Music fans will love this indie documentary. Try to avoid Googling him before you watch, though.
Not a lost Dylan, as claimed; maybe a surrogate Gordon Lightfoot or Al Stewart. Still, it's an amazing story, with an admirably modest hero.
It may fiddle with the facts, but this documentary on the hunt for a long-lost 70s music legend offers a brilliant insight into the nature of fame.
Sixto Rodriguez: 'It's a typical rags-to-riches story'
Director Malik Bendjelloul discusses Searching for Sugar Man
Film preview--Searching for Sugar Man
Malik Bendjelloul & Rodriguez
Sixto Rodriguez: The builder who's bigger than Elvis
Discovering 'Sugar Man' Rodriguez
Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee from Friday August 10, 2012, until Thursday August 16, 2012. More info: www.dca.org.uk
Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Friday August 17, 2012, until Thursday August 30, 2012. More info: www.filmhousecinema.com
Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Friday August 17, 2012, until Thursday August 23, 2012. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/
Cameo, Edinburgh from Friday August 31, 2012, until Thursday September 6, 2012. More info: http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/
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