Searching for Sugar Man

[Beate]

To see a trailer or rate this film, please click here »



Directed by Malik Bendjelloul
Starring: Rodriguez and Malik Bendjelloul

Plot: Two South Africans set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock 'n' roller, Rodriguez.

IMDB

Get free tickets on the forum for Sunday 15th July 2012 via ShowFilmFirst

[Beate]

I was at the PH Greenwich for a members' preview of Electrick Children just now and they showed a trailer for this - looked interesting. I come back and there's a code for next Sunday at Picturehouses! I am guessing it might be a members' preview as well. They are doing one almost every week now! Not that I am complaining.

[filmcat]

Three hours on there is still good availability!! Perhaps people are having their Sunday roast or siesta. (unlike Ted that went too quick!)

[stuartboy]

Now that's how you do a documentary (cf Salute).
My dog had a hand in the editing of this one!

What an amazing film. The cinematography was impeccable. The use of various location and scenic shots illustrating the story. The use of animation and clever camera work. The written information on the screen. All this went a long way to keeping your attention throughout. The story itself was compelling with a was he/wasn't he thread running through. Definitely a man of mystery. A really wonderful piece of cinema. There is enough realism but with still enough mystery to have you wondering... Even I am going to have to Google things now.

I went along expecting the worst. Another documentary and another yawn film. How pleasantly surprised was I?

An easy 8/10.

[Beate]

Has anyone here ever heard of American musician Rodriguez? Me neither. But in South Africa he's a rock God even now - something he seemed to have not been aware of. This is the astonishing account of a few South Africans trying to find out more about their musical hero who mysteriously vanished in the 70s, some say committing suicide on stage. The cinematography is wonderful and the soundtrack, all by Rodriguez himself, is beautiful. The irony of his cult album being named "Cold Fact" when there were almost none about the man himself does not go unnoticed.

I challenge you not to get a lump in your throat in the final half hour of the film, which I will not spoiler - but it's moving.

The one question that was never answered though was how no one around him seemed to have been aware of his success in South Africa - who got rich by not passing royalties on? I'd hope that in this electronic age it wouldn't be possible today.

I wonder....

8/10

[stuartboy]

Oh yeah! In all my haste to Beat the Beate (to posting review!) I forgot to mention the soundtrack! Simply wonderful. And yes there was a lump in my eye and a tear in my throat too. So humbling.

[cinefila1]

This is a real gem of a documentary. The story is brilliantly told, thoroughly engaging and despite all, not without humour. It does make you wonder about man and his destiny. It's 10/10 for me.

[stuartboy]

http://sugarman.org/rod_profile.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixto_Diaz_Rodriguez

Surprisingly that's about it from Google.

As Beate says below - these may contain spoilers.

[Beate]

http://sugarman.org/rod_profile.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixto_Diaz_Rodriguez

Surprisingly that's about it from Google.

Only read if you want to spoiler the film for yourself though!

[Champcelluloid]

Caught this at The Belmont in Aberdeen this morning. Terrific documentary that is part music biopic and part mystery as several South Africans try to piece together the truth about Rodriguez, a Mexican Bob Dylan-esque musician, whose records were very popular and influential in South Africa yet went unknown in the US until rumours of an apparent on stage suicide.
Terrific cinematography and soundtrack add to the beauty of this great film that pulls the rug out from under the audience. Highly recommend seeking this one out when released on July 27th.