Searching for Sugar Man (2012)

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

Director:

Malik Bendjelloul

Writers:

Malik Bendjelloul, Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman (article)

Stars:

Rodriguez, Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman, Dennis Coffey

Won 1 Oscar. Another 40 wins & 31 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman	...	Himself - Record Shop Owner
Dennis Coffey	...	Himself - Co-Producer, Cold Fact 1970
Mike Theodore	...	Himself - Co-Producer, Cold Fact 1970
Dan DiMaggio	...	Himself - Bartender, The Brewery
Jerome Ferretti	...	Himself - Bricklayer
Steve Rowland	...	Himself - Producer, Coming from Reality 1971
Willem Möller	...	Himself - Musician
Craig Bartholomew Strydom	...	Himself - Music Journalist (as Craig Bartholomew-Strydom)
Ilse Assmann	...	Herself - Former Apartheid Archivist
Steve M. Harris	...	Himself - Teal Trutone
Robbie Mann	...	Himself - RPM Records
Clarence Avant	...	Himself - Former Chairman of Motown Records
Eva Rodriguez	...	Herself - Rodriguez's Eldest Daughter
Rodriguez	...	Himself (as Sixto Rodriguez)
Regan Rodriguez	...	Herself - Rodriguez's Youngest Daughter

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.

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Plot Keywords:

songwriter | presumed dead | censorship | search | recording artist | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and some drug references

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan] Official site [United States]

Country:

Sweden UK Finland

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 July 2012 (UK)

Also Known As:

Sugar Man

Filming Locations:

Cape Town, South Africa

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$27,459, 29 July 2012, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,965,090

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,637,687

Company Credits

Production Co:

Red Box Films, Passion Pictures, Canfield Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Malik Bendjelloul committed suicide on 13 May 2014, apperently struggling with depression.

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Goofs

During the credits there is a spelling error - It says "Mabu Vinly" instead of "Mabu Vinyl"

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Quotes

Rodriguez: Thanks for keeping me alive!

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Ben Stiller/Brie Larson/Damon Wayans (2014)

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Soundtracks

Crucify Your Mind
Written by Rodriguez (as Sixto Rodriguez)
Courtesy of Hey Day Entertainment, LLC by arrangement
with Light in the Attic Records & Distribution, LLC

User Reviews

West LA Loves Sixto Rodriguez

The Landmark Theatre in West LA is a tough crowd but they were laughing and crying and when it was over they were applauding. This is what movie magic is all about. I wandered in and was blown away. Where can I get the soundtrack?? Holy! Crap!!

Sixto is what Dylan could have been. That's right he's better than Bob. Better writer, better vocalist by tenfold. Unlike The Jester this guy never sold out and walked the talk until the bitter end.

I've always believed the world's best talent goes unrecognized most of the time but the story of Sixto Rodriguez puts that theory into the "true" category once and for all and I will never doubt it again. Please recognize this man's work! Hopefully his daughters will continue to work toward that end both in the USA and South Africa.