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Searching for Sugar Man

  • 20122012
  • SS
  • 1h 26min
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
66K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
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.
Play trailer2:01
5 Videos
41 Photos
DocumentaryBiographyMusic

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

IMDb RATING
8.2/10
66K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Malik Bendjelloul
  • Writers
    • Malik Bendjelloul
    • Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman(article 'Sugar and the Sugar Man')
    • Craig Bartholomew Strydom(article 'Looking for Jesus')
  • Stars
    • Rodriguez
    • Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman
    • Dennis Coffey
Top credits
  • Director
    • Malik Bendjelloul
  • Writers
    • Malik Bendjelloul
    • Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman(article 'Sugar and the Sugar Man')
    • Craig Bartholomew Strydom(article 'Looking for Jesus')
  • Stars
    • Rodriguez
    • Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman
    • Dennis Coffey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 218User reviews
    • 267Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 45 wins & 33 nominations total

    Videos5

    Theatrical Version
    Trailer 2:01
    Theatrical Version
    Searching for Sugar Man
    Trailer 1:59
    Searching for Sugar Man
    Searching for Sugar Man
    Trailer 2:17
    Searching for Sugar Man
    Searching for Sugar Man
    Trailer 2:22
    Searching for Sugar Man
    Searching for Sugar Man
    Clip 0:45
    Searching for Sugar Man

    Photos41

    Rodriguez in Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
    Rodriguez in Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
    Rodriguez in Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
    Rodriguez in Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
    Rodriguez in Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
    Rodriguez in Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
    Rodriguez in Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
    Rodriguez in Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
    Rodriguez in Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
    Mike Theodore, Rodriguez, and Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman in Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
    Searching for Sugar Man (2012)
    Searching for Sugar Man (2012)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rodriguez
    Rodriguez
    • Selfas Self
    Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman
    Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman
    • Self - Record Shop Owneras Self - Record Shop Owner
    Dennis Coffey
    Dennis Coffey
    • Self - Co-Producer, Cold Fact 1970as Self - Co-Producer, Cold Fact 1970
    Mike Theodore
    • Self - Co-Producer, Cold Fact 1970as Self - Co-Producer, Cold Fact 1970
    Dan DiMaggio
    • Self - Bartender, The Breweryas Self - Bartender, The Brewery
    Jerome Ferretti
    • Self - Bricklayeras Self - Bricklayer
    Steve Rowland
    Steve Rowland
    • Self - Producer, Coming from Reality 1971as Self - Producer, Coming from Reality 1971
    Willem Möller
    • Self - Musicianas Self - Musician
    Craig Bartholomew Strydom
    • Self - Music Journalistas Self - Music Journalist
    • (as Craig Bartholomew-Strydom)
    Ilse Assmann
    • Self - Former Apartheid Archivistas Self - Former Apartheid Archivist
    Steve M. Harris
    • Self - Teal Trutoneas Self - Teal Trutone
    Robbie Mann
    • Self - RPM Recordsas Self - RPM Records
    Clarence Avant
    Clarence Avant
    • Self - Former Chairman of Motown Recordsas Self - Former Chairman of Motown Records
    Eva Rodriguez
    • Self - Rodriguez's Eldest Daughteras Self - Rodriguez's Eldest Daughter
    Regan Rodriguez
    • Self - Rodriguez's Youngest Daughteras Self - Rodriguez's Youngest Daughter
    Sandra Rodriguez-Kennedy
    • Self - Rodriguez's Middle Daughteras Self - Rodriguez's Middle Daughter
    Rick Emmerson
    • Self - Construction Worker Colleagueas Self - Construction Worker Colleague
    Rian Malan
    Rian Malan
    • Self - Journalist and Writeras Self - Journalist and Writer
    • Director
      • Malik Bendjelloul
    • Writers
      • Malik Bendjelloul
      • Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman(article 'Sugar and the Sugar Man')
      • Craig Bartholomew Strydom(article 'Looking for Jesus')
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)
    songwriterpresumed deadcensorshipsearchrecording artist177 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • 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.
    • Genres
      • Documentary
      • Biography
      • Music
    • Certificate
      • S
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • Goofs
      During the credits there is a spelling error - It says "Mabu Vinly" instead of "Mabu Vinyl"
    • Quotes

      Rodriguez: Thanks for keeping me alive!

    • Connections
      Featured in 60 Minutes: Huawei/Sticker Shock/Rodriguez (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Sugar Man
      Written by Rodriguez (as Sixto Rodriguez)

      Courtesy of Hey Day Entertainment, LLC by arrangement

      with Light in the Attic Records & Distribution, LLC

    User reviews218

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Great Art Always Survives
    This documentary really grows on you. As the story and the search begins, you slowly but surely get caught up in the narrative. For me the amazing part of this journey is the composure and serenity of Rodriguez himself. Despite the lack of recognition in his own country, he continued to lead a rich life filled with hope and creativity. Just looking at his 3 beautiful daughters is testament to this. The sound tracks are really wonderful and take you back to the 60s and 70s. Another interesting facet of this movie is the exploration of the overthrow of Apartheid. Many who embraced the music of Rodriquez were Africaaners who were looking for change and a better life for everyone in their country. You come out of this movie believing in a better world.
    helpful•75
    6
    • clarkj-565-161336
    • Aug 26, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 22, 2013 (Finland)
    • Countries of origin
      • Sweden
      • United Kingdom
      • Finland
    • Official site
      • Official site (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bir Şarkının Peşinde
    • Filming locations
      • Detroit, Michigan, USA
    • Production companies
      • Red Box Films
      • Passion Pictures
      • Canfield Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,696,196
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $27,459
      • Jul 29, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,216,552
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 26min
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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