Best of the Fest: Audience Award Documentary - 'Searching for Sugar Man'
Award Winners Showcase
Malik Bendjelloul / Feature Documentary / N/A / 85 min / Unknown / Unknown
Unknown
Rated: Parental guidance is advised for viewers under the age of 13. Individuals under the age of 13 are not admitted into cinemas unless accompanied by an individual aged 18 or older.
Synopsis
At first glance, ‘Searching for Sugar Man’ seems like a standard music documentary that explores the work and life of Sixto Rodriguez, a Mexican-American singer-songwriter who lived in Detroit in the 70s. His poetic, socially conscious compositions led a couple of producers to record an album of his work; they figured his future success was a foregone conclusion. Yet his first release, ‘Cold Fact’, went nowhere and Rodriguez disappeared – amid rumours of a grisly on-stage suicide. Bootleg copies of his recordings made their way to South Africa, where they enjoyed a huge cult popularity. Two of his biggest fans set out to find out what happened to their vanished musical hero, and in the process uncover a story more surprising than they could ever have imagined. The film has won audience awards at Sundance and many international festivals – it’s one of the hits of the year.
Credits
- Director
- Malik Bendjelloul