UPDATE: Malik Bendjelloul – Swedish Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul, the film director behind the Oscar-awarded music documentary “Searching for Sugarman,” Malik Bendjelloul died Tuesday, May 13, 2014. He was 36. RIP.
Searching for Sugar Man is storytelling at its best. A rare, once-in-a-generation film where a real-life hero is crafted before your eyes. Director, writer and editor Malik Bendjelloul gives Joseph Campbell a run for his money in creating myth, hero and legend. Archive footage, testimonials and scratchy recordings are all woven to create a drama – part detective, part homage to a poet who sang the soundtrack of the lives of millions. C’mon you’ve never heard of Rodriguez? He was bigger than Elvis and The Rolling Stones, but not in his home, America. South Africans took to Rodriguez like ‘hot chewing gum to a takkie‘ and his 1970 album Cold Fact became a turntable monster hit there. But Rodriguez never knew. He only recorded 25 songs and with no more music coming, rumours were rife of his demise. Did he blow his brains out, self immolate on stage or die of a drugs overdose in prison? These were the days before the internet, the only clues to his life were the lyrics of his songs.
His story starts in 1968, when two producers went to a downtown Detroit bar to see an unknown recording artist – a charismatic Mexican-American singer/songwriter named Rodriguez who had attracted a local following with his mysterious presence, soulful melodies and prophetic lyrics. They were immediately bewitched by the singer, and thought they had found a musical folk hero in the purest sense – an artist who reminded them of a Chicano Bob Dylan, perhaps even greater. They had worked with the likes of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, but they believed the album they subsequently produced with Rodriguez – Cold Fact – was the masterpiece of their producing careers. Despite good reviews, Cold Fact was a commercial flop in USA and marked the end of his career.
This was not the end of Rodriguez’s story. A bootleg recording of Cold Fact found its way to South Africa in the early ‘70s, a time when the country was becoming increasingly isolated as the Apartheid regime tightened its grip. Rodriguez’s anti-establishment lyrics and observations as an outsider in urban America felt particularly resonant for a whole generation of disaffected Afrikaners. The album quickly developed an avid following through word-of-mouth among the white liberal youth, with local bootleg pressings made. The government banned the record, ensuring no radio play, which only served to further fuel its cult status. The mystery surrounding the artist’s death helped secure Rodriguez’s place in rock legend and Cold Fact quickly became the anthem of the white resistance in Apartheid-era South Africa. Over the next two decades Rodriguez became a household name in their country and Cold Fact went platinum. But little was known about the man.
Two South Africans set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero. This is their fateful story.
Rodriguez’s lyrics say ‘Thanks for your time, and you can thank me for mine, and after that’s said, forget it’
But we can’t forget, this is one of those wonderful resurrecting movies that stay with you forever. Go See. In UK Cinemas from 26 July. 85 mins. Planned to be shown in 85 cities. Five Stars out of Five.
What’s even more remarkable is that the filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul made much of this film on his iPhone with a $1 APP Super 8 (now an award-winning APP which offers seven lens effect, animated filters, a scratch and dirt overlay and frame shake).
We are grateful to @secretscreening for their superb presentation of this film, with the Director present, at newly revamped and swanky Troxy in Limehouse, London. Here’s our review of the night we saw Rodriguez.
UK Poster at Tottenham Court Road Station – I saw this right after I’d been to the screening. That was powerful. I hope this film wins every award under the sun and Rodriguez enjoys this belated acclaim.
This was not the end of Rodriguez’s story. A bootleg recording of Cold Fact found its way to South Africa in the early ‘70s, a time when the country was becoming increasingly isolated as the Apartheid regime tightened its grip. Rodriguez’s anti-establishment lyrics and observations as an outsider in urban America felt particularly resonant for a whole generation of disaffected Afrikaners. The album quickly developed an avid following through word-of-mouth among the white liberal youth, with local bootleg pressings made. The government banned the record, ensuring no radio play, which only served to further fuel its cult status. The mystery surrounding the artist’s death helped secure Rodriguez’s place in rock legend and Cold Fact quickly became the anthem of the white resistance in Apartheid-era South Africa. Over the next two decades Rodriguez became a household name in their country and Cold Fact went platinum. But little was known about the man.
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