PREVIEW: Searching for Sugar Man (12A)

From Swedish director Malik Bendjelloul comes one of the most heartwarming and uplifting documentaries of the modern age, Searching for Sugar Man.
An emotional journey to rediscover the music and the man Sixto Rodriguez, who was dubbed the new Bob Dylan of the 70's.


Bendjelloul's directorial debut is one of the most eye-catching documentaries you will see, helped by Academy Award winning Producer of Man on Wire Simon Chinn. With its uplifting achieve footage of Rodriguez's live performances and engaging interviews, this documentary really does capture the magic and personality of the man who vanished.


If you don't know who Sixto Rodriguez, this documentary will take you on a charming magical mystery ride to discovering the lost superstar of the 70's. In the late 60's, two music producers discovered a charismatic, talented man who was drifting through the bars of Detroit, playing to whoever and whenever he could. His acoustic rock-folk ballads possessed a sound that mimicked that of Bob Dylan. The producers signed Rodriguez up and promptly released his first of what they hoped would be many successful albums 'Cold Fact'. The album was a flop and disappeared without a trace and so did Rodriguez and that's where the fairy tale ended... Until now.

Unbeknown to producers, a copy of 'Cold Fact' turned up in South Africa, and with its protest-esque and rebellious-impressionistic lyrics his album inspired a generation in the  apartheid driven era of South Africa. The album went platinum and so did his status with a following of fans that made him bigger than Elvis. So what did happen to the talented Sixto Rodriguez? Some say he committed suicide, others say he burnt himself alive; this documentary turns detective as it explores the clues, speaks to family and friends to unearth the truth about the accidental legend.


Searching For Sugar Man was not just well received by critics, it was widely recognised on the festival circuit winning both the World Cinema Audience Award and World Cinema Documentary at Sundance as well as being selected for the Tribeca and SXSW Film Festivals.

*One of the most uplifting documentaries in recent memory*

Robbie Collin

 

*Fascinating, unexpected and cherishable*

Trevor Johnston

The trailer speaks for itself! Watch it for yourself...

This fantastic documentary Searching For Sugar Man with an incredible soundtrack of Rodriguez's music is showing at Gloucester Guildhall on Tuesday 11th September at 7.45pm and Wednesday 12th September at 7.45pm.