Searching For Sugar man movie review

Possibly my favorite documentary EVER, Searching For Sugar man is a film I decided to watch this weekend. I first heard about this movie on 60 Minutes some time ago and what caught my attention was the music of this unheard man called Rodriguez. I had taken a HUGE interest in his music and knew everything about him afterwards but was never able to watch the documentary. Thanks to Netflix, this weekend I watched Searching For Sugar man. 

Rodriguez. An aspiring music singer and songwriter of the late sixties that no one in the U.S. had ever heard of. He sold only about 10 copies of both albums he made in the States. Little did he know he was a household name, next to the Beatles and Elvis that everyone in South Africa knew. Everyone knew his songs, by heart and had his albums, but how could he not of known? The royalties never got back to him, so Rodriguez never had a clue he was "as big as Elvis" in a completely different country.  Rodriguez was also rumored to have killed himself long ago but no one knew for sure. He quit making music because he thought he was a failure. But he never was! He was bigger than he ever could have imagined! Stephen Segerman "Sugar" had grown up listening to Rodriguez as a kid and had always wanted to find out what happened to him and tell this amazing man that his seemingly unappreciated music had been glorifed for the past 30 years. The hunt began. 

Stephen Segerman called record companies and all the record labels working back in the 60s to track him down. But to no success. As the story unfolds we meet producers and people Rodriguez was close to increasing the mystery of IF THEY ACTUALLY FIND HIM. The movie was set up so well that NOBODY knew if they were actually going to find him or not. Even if you're not familiar with his work, the film is set up so that you really... Come to love and appreciate Rodriguez, as an artist and as a person so that you REALLY want him to be found. The whole movie soundtrack is Rodriguez's own amazing works off his two albums he made. 

Then... They find him. 

After placing an ad on a milk carton looking for Rodriguez, Stephen Segerman gets a call from Rodriguez's daughter saying he is alive. Stephen is thrilled and the news spreads like wildfire across the world. This artist that billions of people had missed was alive and well. I was most touched by the fact that he went on a tour around the world and was playing to sold out venues every night. He even came to the Winspear last year for a concert. Rodriguez, who is just an amazing songwriter as Donovan and Bob Dylan got the recognition and praise he always deserved. GO WATCH THIS MOVIE. Rodriguez is the biggest musical inspiration to have ever come into my life and he's always reminded me to stay humble, even after you've achieved great success. I love knowing everyone around the world listens to his music and knows his story.