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.
Director: Malik Bendjelloul
Starring: Rodriguez
Reviews:
Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes!
'A fascinating portrait of a forgotten musical pioneer, Searching for Sugar Man is by turns informative and mysterious.'
New Orleans Times-Picayune
Reviewed by: Mike Scott
'All music docs are not created equal. Yes, some are formulaic. But some are beautiful, some are singular, some are marvels of storytelling. And some, like Searching for Sugar Man, are all three.'
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Reviewed by: Joe Williams
'It starts as a bittersweet parable about the cruelty of commerce, but the wonder of Searching for Sugar Man will not soon slip away.'
Chicago Sun-Times
Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
'The information they eventually dislodge about Rodriguez suggests a secular saint, a deeply good man, whose music is the expression of a blessed inner being. I hope you're able to see this film. You deserve to. And yes, it exists because we need for it to.'
San Francisco Chronicle
Reviewed by: Peter Hartlaub
'"Searching" has emotional valleys and zeniths, and gasp-inducing turns, as old friends, fans and Rodriguez's grown daughters are interviewed.'
USA Today
Reviewed by: Claudia Puig
'A musical detective story, this enthralling documentary focuses on a little-known American musician whose haunting voice and poetic lyrics were essentially unknown in his own country, but had a massive impact across the globe.'
Admission Prices*:
General: $10.00
Seniors, Students and Active Military: $9.00
Members: $8.00
Children 12 and under: $7.00
Bargain Matinee Prices (all shows before 6:00pm)
General: $8.00
Members: $6.00
Children 12 and under: $5.00
Your membership with the Lincoln Theatre saves you $2.00 per film ticket.
*All prices include a $1.50 Preservation Fee that goes directly into our capital account for films.