The best documentaries are always the revelations. Sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up watching something on your favourite actor or band or artist or inventor, but when the filmmaker really opens your eyes to a subject and gives you something that’s never been seen before, the purpose of documentation changes somehow. Searching For Sugar Man follows an investigation into the life of Rodriguez, carried out some 30 years after the release of his two defining albums, “Cold Fact” and “Coming From Reality”. Until the late-1990’s, Rodriguez was nothing more than a myth. In America, he was almost entirely unknown (according to Clarence Avant, he’d sold 6 albums nationwide!) He had appeared briefly, recorded a few albums that hadn’t sold and disappeared. This disappearance had since garnered a number of interesting explanations. Some believed he’d burnt himself alive on stage, others that he’d shot himself in the head.

The filmmaker, Malik Bendjelloul (Man on Wire, Project Nim) documents two South African fans and their efforts to get to the bottom of the seemingly impossible legend. In South Africa, the singer had, for a brief period of time, been bigger than the Rolling Stones (a “fact” that Rodriguez had never been let in on). The deciphering of Rodriguez unravels the unique mystery shrouding this American folksinger for the masses. Searching For Sugar Man is hugely important partly because it looks into three fascinating mysteries: Why had the musician, despite the enormity of his talent, made absolutely no mark in the States? How and why had he exploded in South Africa? And where did he go? It becomes obvious, through those who knew Rodriguez and the soundtrack that colours the film, all of which is taken from the singer’s recordings, that he had an immense gift, comparable to the great American songwriters; Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen.

This is why Searching For Sugar Man becomes so layered with intrigue. The subject is entirely unique and the mystery is inconceivable in its vastness. Those who knew Rodriguez both personally and professionally portray him romantically; as a lost soul and a tragic poet. He is spoken of in shadow-form, as a Detroit myth. They lament his wasted talent. And In South Africa, he’s spoken of as a God; according to Stephen “Sugar” Segerman, you’d find “Cold Fact” in every record collection in Cape Town, alongside Simon and Garfunkel and The Beatles. The documentary is filled with Rodriguez’ music, which moves over wonderful scenes of South Africa and Detroit, which are occasionally tinged with animated sequences – all of which glide along with Rodriguez’ unique lyricism. Songs like “Sugar Man”, “Street Boy” and “I Wonder” help provide a vague and disjointed portrait of the artist in their own different ways.

The film is greatly needed, which is why it is such a brilliant piece of work. The viewer is exposed to something, and becomes aware of something that would never otherwise be seen. This is, I believe, the whole point of the genre, and the very foundation of a great documentary – provided the subject is worth knowing about. And in this instance, perhaps, in terms of social and cultural importance, Rodriguez reveals himself as the perfect subject.

External links

Searching For Sugar Man at IMDb

Searching For Sugar Man at Wikipedia

Searching For Sugar Man film’s website

Searching For Sugar Man (awards won and nominated for) at IMDb