Searching for Sugar Man

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  • Opened July 27, 2012 (NY, LA)
  • 1 hr 26 min
  • PG-13 | Some Drug References and Brief Strong Language
  • Parents: Common Sense Media says OK for kids 14+. More on child suitability

  • In the late ‘60s, a musician was discovered in a Detroit bar by two celebrated Motown producers who were struck by his soulful melodies and prophetic lyrics. They recorded an album that they believed was going to secure his reputation as one of the greatest recording artists of his generation. In fact, the album bombed and the singer disappeared into obscurity amid rumors of a gruesome on-stage suicide. But a bootleg recording found its way into apartheid South Africa and, over the next two decades, it became a phenomenon (as big as The Beatles). Two South African fans then set out to find out what really happened to their hero. Their investigation led them to a story more extraordinary than any of the existing myths about the artist known as Rodriguez. This is a film about hope, inspiration and the resonating power of music. Full synopsis

  • Cast: Sixto Rodriguez, Ilse Assmann, Clarence Avant, Craig Bartholomew-Strydom, Dennis Coffey, Dan DiMaggio, Rick Emmerson, Stephen Segerman, Jerone Ferretti
  • Director: Malik Bendjelloul
  • Genres: Documentary

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79 out of 100
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Fan Reviews

Must Go!
Searching for Sugar Man

by gavinjonas

Wonderful, moving story of Rodriguez and his impact on South Africa during the 70's. Loved the movie, the story, the glimpses into an apartheid era South Africa. Highly Recommend....

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Mystery of Sugarman Solved

by dougcolombo

This is an amazing documentary about a 70's artist that myself, America and most of the world have never heard of, but was and still is a huge hit in South Africa. Although the foundation of the...

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You've Got to See Sugarman!

by lindademars

This documentary is amazing. Little bit mystery, little bit travelogue, little bit history...LOTS of great music and a story about how we can inspire people that we don't know about and have never...

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Critic Reviews

100
San Francisco Chronicle
| Peter Hartlaub

"Searching" has emotional valleys and zeniths, and gasp-inducing turns, as old friends, fans and Rodriguez's grown daughters are interviewed. Read full review

100
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
| Joe Williams

It starts as a bittersweet parable about the cruelty of commerce, but the wonder of Searching for Sugar Man will not soon slip away. Read full review

100
Chicago Sun-Times
| Roger Ebert

The information they eventually dislodge about Rodriguez suggests a secular saint, a deeply good man, whose music is the expression of a blessed inner being. I hope you're able to see this film. You deserve to. And yes, it exists because we need for it to. Read full review

100
USA Today
| Claudia Puig

A musical detective story, this enthralling documentary focuses on a little-known American musician whose haunting voice and poetic lyrics were essentially unknown in his own country, but had a massive impact across the globe. Read full review

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A scene from "Searching for Sugar Man."