“A story like this seems so unlikely, so preconceived, that the documentary is the only possible place where it could have this kind of impact. [Director] Bendjelloul captures a wealth of genuine feeling – the joy of the music lovers at finding and helping their hero, the feeling of surprise and graciousness of the hero at being given the chance to finally do what he has always wanted.
It’s as gripping and compelling a documentary as you’re likely to see this year. But, unlike most nonfiction films, which tend to focus on uncovering misdeed and outrage, this one leaves you feeling joyous and moved.
Go “Searching for Sugar Man” – and you’ll come away with a lump in your throat.” Marshall Fine, The Huffington Post
From the Oscar-winning producer of Man on Wire, another crowd pleaser and intriguer! Telling the story of the little-known musician Sixto Rodriguez, the greatest ‘70s American rock icon that never was, the documentary is the journey of two fans dedicated to finding out what happened to this elusive songsmith. Lost to the rest of the world, Rodriguez has remained a folkloric figure in South Africa where his Dylan-esque music became the anthem for freedom-fighters. Attempting to strip away the myth – working back from his apparent gruesome, on-stage suicide – the film makers inadvertently embark on a journey so extraordinary it simply could not belong to fiction.
A huge hit at the Sundance Film Festival where it won the Audience Award and Special Jury Prize, Searching for Sugar Man is a documentary that will fascinate and astound in equal measure. An incredible and heartwarming story, its appeal stretches beyond music fans; it is a film about hope, inspiration and the resonating power of poetry and music.
