The debut feature of Swedish filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul, Sugar Man tells the incredible story of a 1970's American musician who, unbeknownst to him and the rest of America, was a superstar halfway around the world. Two South Africans -- record store owner Stephen "Sugar" Segerman and music journalist Craig Bartholomew-Strydom -- set out on separate missions in the 1990s to discover what has become of their childhood hero, the mysterious bluesy rocker Rodriguez. Rumor has it that he gruesomely committed suicide on stage, but it turns out that Rodriguez is alive and well, still living in the modest Detroit house that he has called home for over forty years. Shortly after, he is invited to play some concerts in South Africa, and all six sold out. Now, Rodriguez is experiencing something of a career revival -- and for those of you in the L.A. area, he will be at Coachella as part of the Sunday lineup! If this story was fiction, no one would believe it, because it's just too mind-blowing to be true. How can an artist be more popular than Elvis and The Beatles in another country and not even know it? It is truly a shame that he went virtually unrecognized almost everywhere else for all this time, because his music is truly fantastic; I can't believe I had never heard any of it before I saw this documentary. The film itself is absolutely fascinating; I could not take my eyes off of the screen at any point. Bendjelloul supposedly shot most of it on the Super 8 app of his iPhone 4, which makes it an even more impressive feat if it's true. I hope it wins the Best Documentary Oscar, because it is just one of those stories that needed to be told.
Highlights of the documentary's soundtrack include "Sugar Man," "Crucify Your Mind," "I Wonder," and "Cause." Look these songs up -- I guarantee that you will be amazed.
Should you see it: Yes
Grade: A
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