Two South Africans set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock n roller, Rodriguez.
Director:
Malik Bendjelloul
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Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman | ... | Self - Record Shop Owner | |
| Dennis Coffey | ... | Self - Co-Producer, Cold Fact 1970 | |
 |
Mike Theodore | ... | Self - Co-Producer, Cold Fact 1970 |
|
|
Dan DiMaggio | ... | Self - Bartender, The Brewery |
|
|
Jerome Ferretti | ... | Self - Bricklayer |
| Steve Rowland | ... | Self - Producer, Coming from Reality 1971 | |
|
|
Willem Möller | ... | Self - Musician |
|
|
Craig Bartholomew Strydom | ... | Self - Music Journalist (as Craig Bartholomew-Strydom) |
|
|
Ilse Assmann | ... | Self - Former Apartheid Archivist |
|
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Steve M. Harris | ... | Self - Teal Trutone |
|
|
Robbie Mann | ... | Self - RPM Records |
| Clarence Avant | ... | Self - Former Chairman of Motown Records | |
|
|
Eva Rodriguez | ... | Self - Rodriguez's Eldest Daughter |
| Rodriguez | ... | Self (as Sixto Rodriguez) | |
| Regan Rodriguez | ... | Self - Rodriguez's Youngest Daughter | |
Edit
Plot Summary
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Storyline
In the early 1970s, Sixto Rodriguez was a Detroit folksinger who had a short-lived recording career with only two well received but non-selling albums. Unknown to Rodriguez, his musical story continued in South Africa where he became a pop music icon and inspiration for generations. Long rumored there to be dead by suicide, a few fans in the 1990s decided to seek out the truth of their hero's fate. What follows is a bizarrely heartening story in which they found far more in their quest than they ever hoped, while a Detroit construction laborer discovered that his lost artistic dreams came true after all. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)
Plot Keywords:
songwriter | presumed dead | censorship | search | recording artist |Taglines:
He was a star in the making, who vanished without a trace. But on the other side of the world, he inspired a generation.Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and some drug references | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
26 July 2012 (UK) See more »Also Known As:
Searching for Sugar Man See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$27,459, 29 July 2012Gross USA:
$3,696,196Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$9,133,597Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Dolby DigitalAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Some parts of the documentary were shot on an iPhone App called 8mm Vintage Camera after the producers ran out of film for an expensive real 8mm camera. The app cost only £1.49/$1.99. Director Malik Bendjelloul was cash strapped from making the documentary. See more »Goofs
During the credits there is a spelling error - It says "Mabu Vinly" instead of "Mabu Vinyl" See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Who would know that an unknown album from an unknown artist in 1970 (Rodriguez) would become a huge phenomenon in South Africa? As big as say, Paul McCartney. Rodriguez himself was never aware of his huge success, as well as most other Americans. This film traces two hardcore fans as they trace clues around the globe trying to find out what happened to this man. Did he commit a gruesome suicide as rumors say? If so, when and where? Almost nothing was known of this mystery man. The film unfolds a story that cannot be believed by any party. Not the South Africans, nor the filmmakers, or any member of the Rodriquez family. A story that you would swear would not be possible in this day and age of digital communications.