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 39 wins & 30 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:

south africa | songwriter | presumed dead | censorship | search | 

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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 De slimste mens ter wereld: Episode #8.29 (2016)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

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.