It was only fitting that the first film we watched South Africa was
‘Searching for Sugar Man’. The documentary is about an American singer,
Rodriguez, whose two albums released in the 1970s failed miserably in
the US. He gave up on his musical career and went back to his mundane
life of construction work.
Somehow, unbeknownst to him, the albums made their way to South Africa and Rodriguez became immensely popular over the years. He was a household name; his albums treasured as much as Michael Jackson’s or the Beatles’. But nobody in South Africa knew anything about him, and presumed him dead. The movie is about a South African fan (later joined by others), who set out on a long journey looking for, and eventually finding Rodriguez.
The movie is very well-made, with some lovely shots of Cape Town, and is accompanied by the poignant music and lyrics of Rodriguez.
