alejandraeee Picture having the lyricism and inspiring ability to strum melodies powerful enough to lead thousands through a dark period of oppression. Sixto Rodriguez's powerful music did just that when it reached the youth of South Africa during the movement against the discriminatory system of racial segregation known as the Apartheid. Despite his popularity reaching greater lengths than even Elvis at the time, Rodriguez had no idea of his fame. Similarly, his fans knew very little of him and was believed to have committed suicide as a result of his mysterious persona. While he lived a modest life in Detroit, loyal fans such as Stephen "Sugar" Segerman constantly searched to find out more about their long lost hero. Malik Bendjelloul's Searching for Sugar Man (2012) follows the search for Rodriguez, a man with a very distinguishable walk, who was deprived of his fame and fortune due to geographical barriers and under appreciation of art. The film skillfully uses Rodriguez's music as the soundtrack and dramatic silence to trigger an emotional response. This manipulation of sound allows viewers to form a connection and relate to those that his music impacted (they were also really good songs). The leitmotif of the song Sugarman ties the film together and ultimately brings a sense of familiarity. The film is able to capture Rodriguez's humility through the words of those that are closest to him. The use of animated visuals in what appears to be slight slow motion keeps the audience engaged by setting the tone and "flowing" with his music. The viewer was also kept visually intrigued by the mixing of camera strategy throughout the film. Simple camera work depicted the realness of the documentary while the noticeably old recordings of his performances added to the overall artistic appeal of the film. Bendjelloul proved that simplicity and authenticity can bring forth well deserved success, much like it did for Rodriguez.

timothydmizdrak Being Shot in the head to being lit on fire during a performance, these are the myths that surrounded Rodriguez's death. This documentary tells the story of how Rodriguez came to fame after he thought his career was over. It's a couple South African men who are on a quest to find their favorite artist and the non-stop search. Rodriguez remains positive even though he didn't make it at first and was surprised that he was famous outside of America. It gives multiple sides of the story to find him and even gives the perspective from Rodriguez's daughters. They tell how even though he didn't make it, he went back to working in construction and love what he did even though he wasn't making money. When the producers first heard of him they thought they had an instant star, but for some reason in the United States he didn't make it at all. The producers were devastated for him and was really surprised when they found out when he was big in South Africa. The Film does a great job of having his music playing in the background to really show how great his music was. The film also does a great job of using the iPhone app to film part of the music when he ran out of money. You can't even tell that there was a difference in filming equipment throughout the film, and that gives the editing in the film a masterpiece.

geraldplangosch Sixto Rodriguez is a man. A man facing the back of a Detroit bar while performing original music that gives Bob Dylan a run for his money. His vanishing, the hunt for his legacy, and his eventual musical rebirth are covered in "Searching for Sugar Man" at a pace that's not only an impossible combination of hopeful and melancholic, but wholly refreshing for modern documentaries. For someone that does not know who Rodriguez is, this film will be an emotional roller coaster. To those that do, it will likely tug at your heart strings throughout, and leave you in disbelief at the story of his life before his miraculous revival thanks to curious, committed fans. With Rodriguez's music serving as a soundtrack, there's nothing to dislike about the editing and mixing choices on all fronts.Interviews conducted in public during "Sugar Man" have some of the most emotionally charged stories in recent memory; The interviewees, whether people that have worked with Rodriguez in Detroit or professionally in the music industry, will not only leave you wanting to know more about their connection to the titular comeback king, but about their hand in his life, mainly his unhinged South African revival. The staunch characterization of subjects in this film, some morally sound and some rather ambiguous, makes this film the opening to a realm of research, the shame being that the run time does not allow for more people touched by this previously unsung hero to step forward.Any gripe with this movie comes with the sparsely used animations or visuals that felt out of place in the film. Most explanations come from interviewees or those that conducted the research in finding their Apartheid rebellion hero, thus making the interjections seem dry.If ever there were a documentary that is completely pure of heart, only trying to see through the gossip and the lies perpetuated by world culture to find a warm reception and a truly happy ending (including a man being his best self without reaping the benefits of his hobbies) then "Searching for Sugar Man" is this documentary.

calvin1996 Warning SPOILER ALERTSearching for Sugar Man is a revolutionary documentary that brings attention to one of the world's greatest but also unknown rock start. Rodriguez was a Detroit native who recorded two albums in the 1970's that producers were sure would be chart topper. After little success though Rodriquez faded back into Detroit life, and after a while rumors of his on stage suicide started to circulate. What no one in the US knew though, was that in South Africa Rodriquez was on the top of the charts, and helped fuel a revolution.This is where the story starts, on a scenic ocean drive while a man called Sugar tells us what Rodriquez meant to him. That's is was I think makes this documentary so unique and different. The film doesn't start by telling us who Rodriquez is, it tells us what he meant to people and how his music helped a country. It tells us his legacy and what he has done before we even know who he is. The film then tells the story of Sugar, his friends and their search for information about Rodriguez as they only had a name and a photo. This turns the film into a mystery as they try everything from following the money to making websites and asking online. Throughout the search the film also tells us the origins of Rodriguez but nothing after his second album. That information we learn as Sugar and his friends do, and it's a shock to everyone.The film is filled with the Rodriguez's music, and it fits really well. I imagine the director did this on purpose, but it is better than I have seen before. The story flows with the music, and I could tell that the film was made to fit the music rather than fitting the music to the film. I think this has a greater effect on emotion and helps bring the audience into the film and care about the story. Overall I don't think anyone can go wrong watching this film as it shows the real power that music has on people.