The beauty of Documentary films is that you always know that all of this is true even if it seems absolutely improbable. This knowledge produces a sense of amazement and shock. The story of Sugar man is no less amazing and equally hard to believe in today's digital age where the world is a nothing but a global village.This is an excellent offering by director Malik Bendjelloul, and it deserves all the rave reviews and awards that it has been receiving.
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.
Rodriguez never got his due in his own country, but became a source of inspiration to thousands of South Africans who were reeling under the brutality of apartheid.Every movement needs an anthem, and the rebels of the country adopted Rodriguez's music as theirs.Even the censorship of a few of his songs could not deter the fans.The majority of the first half of the film deals with establishing the known facts about the singer and his rise to stardom in South Africa, but takes a turn in the second half.Two fans take it up upon themselves to unravel the mystery of the singer and know more about him.Thus begins the search for Sugar man. What happens next and what do they find is represented in a beautiful way akin to a mystery thriller. Watch the film to find it out. The outcome is both heartwarming and somewhat sad.
The film touches upon the eternal malice of Piracy (or Bootleging) and its effect on artists, but overall its a film about an extraordinary life.Filled with songs from the artist's 2 recorded albums and the third unfinished one, it adds life to the narrative.This is a masterpiece which would be extra special to all the music lovers who grew up with 70's music of the likes of Bob Dylan. But even if you are not a music aficionado, this would sill strike a chord in your heart.
WORTHY MENTIONS
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.
AWARDS
Won the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2013
Won the BAFTA for best Documentary in 2013
MY VERDICT
****1/2 - A very melodious journey
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