Searching for Sugar Man
Searching for Sugar Man

Searching for Sugar Man

2012Movie85 minEnglish

Two South Africans set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock 'n' roller, Rodriguez.

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Insights

IMDb8.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes95%
Metacritic81/100
Google Users94%
Director: Malik BendjelloulGenres: Documentary, Music, Biography

Plot Summary

Two South African fans set out to discover what happened to their idol, the mysterious American musician Sixto Rodriguez. Their investigation uncovers a story far more incredible than they could have imagined, revealing a forgotten musical legend whose work resonated deeply across continents.

Critical Reception

Searching for Sugar Man was met with near-universal critical acclaim, lauded for its compelling narrative, emotional depth, and the incredible story of Sixto Rodriguez. It was celebrated as one of the finest documentaries of its year, resonating with audiences worldwide for its uplifting and inspiring true story.

What Reviewers Say

  • A captivating and emotionally resonant documentary that builds to a truly astonishing revelation.
  • Praised for its masterful storytelling and the extraordinary, feel-good journey of rediscovery.
  • The film's tribute to Rodriguez and his music is deeply moving and ultimately triumphant.

Google audience: Audiences overwhelmingly loved Searching for Sugar Man, finding it an inspiring, emotional, and beautifully told story. Many highlighted the incredible journey of Sixto Rodriguez and the powerful impact of his music, with reviewers frequently describing it as a must-see and a deeply satisfying cinematic experience.

Awards & Accolades

Won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, BAFTA Award for Best Documentary, and numerous other awards.

Fun Fact

The film's director, Malik Bendjelloul, tragically died by suicide in 2014, just two years after the film's release and critical success.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

5 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

This is quite a curious documentary that at times made me wonder if the whole story was an hoax. It's all about Sixto Rodriguez who made a couple of albums in the early 1970s that had some critical acclaim but didn't track at all with the a...
badelf

badelf

This is probably the most enjoyable documentary film I've ever seen. It's about a singer from the 70s whom I've never heard of (although I'm old enough) even though he's clearly a better poet and songwriter than Bob Dylan (yes, I said that ...
Igbochild

Igbochild

An endlessly fascinating and compelling story involving Rodriguez, a talented American singer-songwriter that should have been a household name, but instead quickly faded into obscurity. Long rumored to have died under tragic circumstances,...
Cavalli

Cavalli

An unlikely and interesting story that is part historical, part investigation and ultimately satisfying. The historical backdrop of South Africa's dictatorship years and of the lack of communication it had with the outside world are key in ...
Andres Gomez

Andres Gomez

An interesting story in a well driven story and high quality cut. However, it tries to be much more epic than what it actually is.