Review: Searching for Sugar Man

Subject: Review: Searching for Sugar Man
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 09:24 AM

A quirky film that Catters might like: Searching for Sugar Man is about Sixto Rodriguez, whose two Dylan/Donavanesque albums sank like a stone but who became a superstar in South Africa, unbeknownst to himself or to his finances. Rumour was that he'd died gruesomely on stage. Then two South Africans started looking for him: a longtime fan (as were most Boomers in South Africa), and an investigative journalist using the catchphrase "Follow the money". Absolutely heartwarming, Rodriguez' three gorgeous daughters are a revelation, and... but I won't spoil it for you. Watch it yourself.

Subject: RE: Review: Searching for Sugar Man
From: Ron Davies
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 10:19 AM

This really does sound intriguing.    Is it available on DVD?    Perhaps not yet?

Subject: RE: Review: Searching for Sugar Man
From: Ron Davies
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 10:24 AM

I answered my own question.    It is available on DVD at Amazon.    Jan and I may well check this out.   Hope it has extras--Jan and I love those, and they often add a lot of background.

Thanks for the tip.

Subject: RE: Review: Searching for Sugar Man
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 11:10 AM

You're very welcome, Ron Davies and Jan.

Subject: RE: Review: Searching for Sugar Man
From: Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 11:28 AM

I saw the movie when it came out, and it was absolutely wonderful!   Now that it's on DVD I'll watch it again.

Subject: RE: Review: Searching for Sugar Man
From: Brakn
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 11:33 AM

Great film. A must watch.

Subject: RE: Review: Searching for Sugar Man
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 28 Jul 13 - 11:34 AM

Great film...enjoyed it from start to finish.

Subject: RE: Review: Searching for Sugar Man
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 29 Jul 13 - 04:36 AM

Lovely film. The two albums, reissued by Seattle's Lights in the Attic label are great, too.

Subject: RE: Review: Searching for Sugar Man
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 04:09 PM

This man is truly the Mississippi John Hurt of the 21st century. Incredible story.

Subject: RE: Review: Searching for Sugar Man
From: Neil D
Date: 09 Jan 14 - 12:20 AM

An absolutely amazing story of an extraordinary artist, who is also a truly remarkable man. A poet from the streets whose career just never took off, he spent the next several decades doing the most filthy backbreaking labor imaginable. Meanwhile, in South Africa he was bigger than Elvis and the Beatles, the musical inspiration for the first generation of young whites to begin resisting their government's apartheid policies. In that country his records sold in the 100s of thousands and he never saw a cent. And yet, he shows no hint of bitterness for the royalties he never saw, the opportunities missed or hard physical labor. As I said a remarkable man.
   Swedish director Malik Bendjelloul made this documentary with a practically non-existent budget, shooting much of it with his smartphone, yet it has won many awards, including the Special Jury Prize at Sundance. The interviews are often quite touching, especially the ones with his daughters and a friend/co-worker with a philosophical bent. And the serendipitous soundtrack, a song for every story, a melody for every mood, exposes the breadth and depth of his unique musical vision. In spite of the length of this review, I've barely skimmed the outline of this remarkable story, so if you haven't seen it, please do.
    I originally rented the DVD when it first came out. Then, during a 2 month period when my cable company accidentally gave me all the premium channels for free, it was being shown a couple times a week. I would be surfing and stumble across "Searching For Sugar Man" and think I'm not going to watch this since I just saw it. Yet within a minute I would be caught up in the story all over again and couldn't turn it off. Even on the 6th viewing I was still getting choked up and teary-eyed in places.
Sandrevan Lullaby

Subject: RE: Review: Searching for Sugar Man
From: Eldergirl
Date: 09 Jan 14 - 02:39 PM

Beautiful song.
Just requested DVD and soundtrack from the county library.
Thanks for the info, looking fwd to catching up with this.

Subject: RE: Review: Searching for Sugar Man
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 10 Jan 14 - 01:57 AM

My South African friend Neil got me into Rogriguez a few years ago when we first met at the Axminster Inn open mics, quite a while before the movie came out. I was amazed that he could have been so well known in SA and completely obscure outside that country. Every single South African I know waxed lyrical about him when I mentioned him after Neil put me onto him. No non-Yarpie I mentioned his name to in the UK, pre the movie, had any clue who he was.

Here's friend Neil doing a fairly laid back version of the eponymous song:

Neil Covering Sugar Man

Since the movie came out, Neil's got the nickname "Sugar Man" as he's the local pharmacist!:-)