Review of Searching for Sugar Man (2012) by Phil P — 12 May 2015

"He was bigger than Elvis, much much bigger".

Often Documentaries are viewed on their heft of information, whether they reveal something new or bring to light something lesser known. And while that is true in part here the reason 'Searching For Sugar Man' works is simply because it's easy going. The director knows when to call to the intrigue and when to the straight facts.

It starts out with a drive along a South African mountain coastline. Straight away letting us know despite the rest of the world being oblivious to the existence of 'Rodriguez'. But in South Africa he was as big as anyone else in the rest of the world. Even so far as to say that he was vastly more popular than Elvis. Easily digestible and puts into the context of the rest of the documentary - while including the mystery of whether this guy is even still alive.

It paints the picture of two different men, what 'Rodriguez' appears to the unknown - a depressed suffering musician and who he actually is a happy hard-working man. I think that's the most interesting part for me, what he turns out be rather than the rumours that circulated around South Africa.

Even in the detective like sections of the film it's breezy pacing is ever-present. Never feeling forced or with too much information thrown at the audience. It's odd to think that this man had a completely unknown following the size of The Beatles in South Africa yet in his home country and oddity with almost no sales. One complaint does come into a scene where it appears to be probing how can someone so popular not see a single cent of it. Unfortunately is spends very little on this - it's arguably the biggest question the film has left and only.

Peppered with 'Rodriguez' music throughout (mostly in the first half) showcasing his knack for song writing and confirming what his producers suggest - how did this man not make it big. With Bob Dylan being compared as an equal is pretty damn high praise to boot. When the mystery is soled and things slow-down we get to sit down with the man himself and see who he is for ourselves. All the build up and the enthusiasm of those on the war path to find him all the more interesting. And to find out his modest life and the incredible selflessness of the money he made touring Africa was given away - shows he wasn't just an intriguing mystery but a truly nice guy.