Review of Searching for Sugar Man (2012) by Nesbitt10 — 22 Apr 2013

Director Malik Bendjelloul's engaging, cleverly structured documentary about the legendary folk singer Rodriguez is shaped like a mystery. The documentary tells the journey of two South Africans, who are dedicated to follow the footsteps of the late 70's singer, Sixto Rodriguez.

A singer and composer of great talent who was virtually unknown in the United States. Hailed as the next Bob Dylan, former Motown chief Clarence Avant signed him in the late 1960s, and the Detroit based musician (full name Sixto Rodriguez) had two albums released, in 1971 and 1972.

Rave reviews failed to translate into sales. However, his records sold millions as protest songs for the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. Rodriguez knew nothing about movement, including the amount of money he should have garnered from royalties there, is unheard of, and unfair-- but it's actually the smaller part of the story.

The mass legend surrounding his on-stage suicide (did he light himself on fire on stage? or something even worse?) never corroborated and the investigation into how and why the musician from Detroit disappeared takes on an intensity of its own.

If you like music, a good mystery or, better yet, a combination of both, you won't be disappointed.