The Story of Searching for Sugar Man - Movie Review Example

Other (s) How the Story of “Searching for Sugar Man” Touches the Audience The “Searchingfor Sugar Man” directed by Malik Bendjelloul in 2012 is one of the classic documentary films whose incredible story touches the audience in a number of ways. Searching for sugar man movie is primarily based on an incredible true story of Rodriguez. The documentary is based on the tale of an American musician named Sixto Rodriguez who vanished without trace after putting two records in the 1970s. Although rumors had it that Rodriguez committed suicide because his record did not pick up at home, he was extremely popular in South Africa at the time of his disappearance. A bootleg South African phenomenon presented two South African fans who sort to find the roots of South African apartheid rule and what happened to their superhero (Bendjelloul 1). This paper critically examines how and why the story of searching for sugar man appealed to the audience. Many of the lyrics of Rodriguez told of the daily challenges of the homeless and the working poor and the story of a society that was in decline “Cause.” While Rodriguez was deemed as a commercial failure at home, his rock musical records were extremely popular in South Africa.. His intriguing story particularly touched many of his audience. For example, as an artist, Rodriguez artist message considering his talents could have firstly been welcomed in his birthplace more than anywhere in the world. Throughout its performance, the story has in numerous occasions sparked standing ovation with some members of audience left cheering and crying. One of the ways through which the story touches the audience is the use of Rodriguez’s outstanding music characterized by prophetic lyrics and soulful melodies. “He is like a poet and from his lyrics, I know his sorrow.” …. “Because I lost my job two weeks before Christmas........”(From the song “cause”). Additionally, being one of the greatest rock and pop music icon by 1970s, the use of Rodriguez’s music may have contributed to the Searching for Sugar Man’s captivating touch on the audience. Generally, Bendjelloul’s film provided the fans of the “Searching for Sugar Man” with the continued inspiration that they needed. The inspirational content rediscovered in Sixto music finally would be touchy. For someone to blindly follow your musical career routes, you must have been a greater influence in their lives. Segerman is a music store owner. As much as he lacks the knowledge of recording and distribution, he feels touched by Rodriguez expertise in the entertainment industry. Craig also feels moved spiritually by Rodriguez talent. Lastly, these two individuals appreciation of Rodriguez contributions overly in the hard ways is an intriguing escapade to the audience of this story. Another potential factor that may explain how the story of “Searching for Sugar Man” was able to touch the South African audience the way it did is related to the social environment of the 20th century South Africa. For example, having shunned by the rest of the world due to the racist oppression of the apartheid regime, the lyrics of Rodriguez’s music struck a cord with many South Africans since music somehow provided a sense of encouragement for those fighting for equal rights to fight harder and stand up to what they believed in. During the time, the daily protests against the apartheid regime often resulted in violent classes between those opposed to racial oppression and the pro-regime militias and police. Despite the apparent unpopularity of Rodiguez’s songs in America, a contrasting reality was building thousands of miles away in South Africa where his song recordings particularly the album bootleg was quickly going viral both on tape and vinyl stores across the country. Generally, Rodiguez’s theme anti-establishment messages were increasingly fueling an underground social equality movement that quickly inspired a generation of young white anti-apartheid South Africans. “In South Africa, Rodiguez’s song recordings quickly became something of a rebel son’s of icon.” (From the movie). In addition, the eloquent attacks on prejudice, suppression and injustices were greatly applauded by the young white liberal thinkers. This singer beyond doubt immensely influenced the public in as far as this movie is concerned. The inspirational themes of his lyrical justice captured the troubles of the American society in the 1960s henceforth these themes were really applicable to the defiance of apartheid rule. These pair of movie character knew no more about the singer than they found on the record sleeves. They therefore thought he had died but to confirm their suspicion they started a search for him. As a result, his music inspired any country that was going through all kinds of discrimination laws and gave a lot of people hope to live again since most of his musical messages carried anti-apartheid message. Although much of the music getting to South Africa at the time was censured, the recordings of Rodrigeuz’s songs managed to spread throughout the country like wildfire particularly on the black market. This new documentary fascinates the reclusive rock stars that had vanished while passing message of oppression to the people. In real life the actors presents themselves as Syd Barret and Peter green, but in fiction Bucky Wunderlick, Reichard Katz and Great Jones Street. However, none of these characters matches the extraordinary case of Rodriguez. The truth about him was absolutely hard to extract in the pre-internet era. Additionally, the characters illuminated in the searching for a sugar man movie barely matched Rodrigues character. The film therefore turned to be stranger than fiction. The Detroit based singer popularly presented in Searching for sugar man movie shows the thematic setting of talent searching through the movie; it is always one thing to discover talent, and quite a different thing to rediscover and old talent. These two experiences are offer absolutely different satisfactions and values. The two South Africans on the searching for sugar man mission; the record shop manager Stephen Segerman and the music journalist Graig Bartholomew-Strydom have been fascinated by this Detroit-based Folk-rock singer Sixto Rodriguez. This was basically an unimaginable talent such that if they could have a musician like Rodriquez to record, they would also be stars as well. Rodriguez had recorded some of the most listened to 1970’s music that is through his cold fact and coming from reality LPs albums. Even though these versions had made a little impact on the U.S entertainment industry, they had ultimately influenced overall south African musical industry through the bootleg versions. With regard to why the story of “searching for sugar man” is thrilling the audience, one of the potential explanations for the appeal of the story is how director, Malik Bendejelloul has engaged and cleverly structured the documentary to in a way that mystifies the whole story of Rodriguez (Dargis 1). For example, the movie “searching for sugar man” documents how the Two Cape Town fans, Stephen “sugar” Segerman and Craig Bartholomew Strydom try to figure out the rumored death of musician Sixto Rodriguez. Consequently, the more the audience hears the soundtracks and learns about the political and cultural impact of Rodriguez’s songs, the more they are likely to want to know more about the iconic singer and musician. As a result, the mystique surrounding the life of Rodriguez as depicted in the documentary may have undoubtedly helped to thrill the audience and spur the popularity of the story of “Searching for Sugar Man.” Goingby the popularity of the song in the 20th century South Africa even more than in America where the song originated from, it is evident that the inspirational goals of the documentary were achieved. The two characters who set to find about Rodriguez particularly believed his messages were meant to inspire the blacks. Rodriguez music nonetheless targeted everyone in the society. Finally, despite Rodriguez’s lyrical compositions influential nature to the overall world, little attention was paid to his whereabouts. Only Stephen “Sugar” Segerman and Craig Bartholomew Strydom from South Africa feels Rodriguez was such an admirable character hence his mission in the musical industry should not be left unfulfilled. These two individuals set to find out whether the rumours surrounding Rodriguez death are true. The indeed need to know what exactly happened to him. To the audience, this would affect them emotionally especially due to the fact that Rodriquez mysteriously died. Secondly, out of all the masses moved buy Rodriguez lyrics, only two people are concerned about his whereabouts. In conclusion, the appeal of the story of “Searching for Sugar Man” to the viewers particularly the 20th century South African audience is attributed to a number of factors some of which include the mysterious nature in which the story is presented in the documentary by director, Malik Bendejelloul, the social environment of South Africa during the fight against apartheid racial oppression and the use of Rodriquez’s inspirational music in the documentary. Works Cited Bendjelloul, Malik. Searching For Sugar Man. Stephen Sugar Segerman and Craig Bartholomew Strydom. 2012. Film. Dargis, Manohla. Malik Bendjelloul’s ‘Searching for Sugar Man: Rock Musician Shrouded in Mystery of What Might Have Been”. Nytimes,2012.Web. 24. Nov.2014. Read More