Searching for Sugar Man

2012

Searching for Sugar Man

Critics Consensus

A fascinating portrait of a forgotten musical pioneer, Searching for Sugar Man is by turns informative and mysterious.

94%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 127

92%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 19,193
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Movie Info

Searching for Sugar Man tells the incredible true story of Rodriguez, the greatest '70s rock icon who never was. Discovered in a Detroit bar in the late '60s by two celebrated producers struck by his soulful melodies and prophetic lyrics, they recorded an album which they believed would secure his reputation as the greatest recording artist of his generation. In fact, the album bombed and the singer disappeared into obscurity amid rumors of a gruesome on-stage suicide. But a bootleg recording found its way into apartheid South Africa and, over the next two decades, he became a phenomenon. The film follows the story of two South African fans who set out to find out what really happened to their hero. Their investigation leads them to a story more extraordinary than any of the existing myths about the artist known as Rodriguez. -- (C) Sony Pictures Classics

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Cast

Rodriguez (VIII)
Ilse Assmann
Clarence Avant
Craig Bartholomew-Strydom
Dennis Coffey
Dan DiMaggio
Rick Emmerson
Stephen Segerman
Jerone Ferretti
Steve M. Harris
Rian Malan
Robbie Mann
Willem Möller
Eva Rodriguez
Regan Rodriguez
Sandra Rodriguez-Kennedy
Steve Rowland
Mike Theodore
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Critic Reviews for Searching for Sugar Man

All Critics (127) | Top Critics (38)

  • At 85 minutes, it's a tight, sharp achievement, yet one of the things I love about it is simple: It moves to a relaxed rhythm, in sync with its slightly otherworldly subject.

    Jan 7, 2013 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Michael Phillips

    Chicago Tribune
    Top Critic

  • The search for a long-lost pop icon has an unexpected payoff.

    Sep 21, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

    John Anderson

    Newsday
    Top Critic

  • [A] moving, lyrical account ...

    Sep 17, 2012 | Full Review…

    Ken Marks

    New Yorker
    Top Critic

  • It starts as a bittersweet parable about the cruelty of commerce, but the wonder of "Searching for Sugar Man" will not soon slip away.

    Sep 13, 2012 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…

    Joe Williams

    St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Top Critic

  • Director Malik Bendjelloul's engaging, cleverly structured documentary about the legendary folk singer Rodriguez is shaped like a mystery.

    Sep 13, 2012 | Rating: 3/4

    Rene Rodriguez

    Miami Herald
    Top Critic

  • You watch "Searching for Sugar Man" at first fascinated by the mystery - what happened to Rodriguez? Where did he go? Then you become infuriated by its revelations of financial injustice.

    Aug 23, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4

    Moira MacDonald

    Seattle Times
    Top Critic
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Audience Reviews for Searching for Sugar Man

  • Jun 04, 2017
    Quiet but heartwarming documentary about an American folk musician of the 1970s who was later believed to be dead in South Africa, the only country he had a huge success in without ever hearing about it. Sounds curious? It is. But a really sweet story only life could come up with.
    Jens S Super Reviewer
  • Aug 20, 2013
    A superb mystery-documentary telling the true story of a largely unknown musician and the investigation into what/why things happened, eventually separating the myths from the (just as fascinating) truths. A joy.
    Daniel P Super Reviewer
  • Apr 07, 2013
    A riveting, incredible documentary about the talented musician Rodriguez and how, after two hit albums in the 1970's, disappeared seemingly into thin air. After two of his biggest fans decide to attempt to track him down even though rumors persist that he's dead, they stumble upon more parts to their hero's amazing true story. This is a story that is almost too special to believe it is true, but the film strikes a genuine tone that is as interested as the viewer to get to the bottom of this mysterious man. Without revealing too much, this is one of the best documentaries made in quite some time, close to perfect. A must-see for any music fan or avid follower of documentaries.
    Dan S Super Reviewer
  • Mar 21, 2013
    Maybe a must watch for the hardcore fans of Sixto Rodriguez, but to me (never heard the guy's name before; gave it a shot simply because the documentary synopsis had a mystic touch to it), it's as watchable as skipable. The first half is quite interesting, but then it (understandably) gets repetitive. Might have liked it better had it being cut to the chase ;-)
    familiar s Super Reviewer
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