Review of Searching for Sugar Man (2012) by Michael G — 11 Oct 2012

This is honestly one of the most incredible stories I've ever heard, so incredible that it's almost unbelievable. Searching for Sugar Man is half mystery, half uplifting story of what really matters in life, and completely an amazing movie.

The documentary was a passion project for the director, so much so that he spent all the money he had to finish making it. It's fantastic just from a movie-making perspective, but it's truly wonderful for telling the story it does.

Sixto Rodriguez was a musician in the early 1970s who, after his two albums garnered great reviews but abysmal sales, stopped making albums and went back to working unglamorous and grueling jobs in his hometown of Detroit.

Little did he know that, although he was completely unknown in the United States, his music sold hundreds of thousands of records in South Africa, where he is the most famous musician in the country's history.

He recieved none of the profits from the bootleg record sales, and had no idea that anybody knew his music, let alone an entire country. The movie chronicles two South Africans who investigate what happened to Rodriguez, with the only clue they have being the cover of his first album and the lyrics to his music.

It's a story that must be seen to be believed, but it is wonderfully inspirational and beautiful, and tells a tale that deserves to be seen and heard.