Searching for Sugar Man

AroView: A unique, engaging music mystery that follows the late-60’s Detroit based musician Sixto Rodriguez, who faded into obscurity in America amidst rumours of suicide, while in South Africa his debut album had become a national phenomenon fueling the anti-apartheid movement.

As entertainment, this successfully trades on the inspirational power of music during political repression, and the romantic idea of a labourer who discovers that he is a rock star, though Kiwis who equally loved Rodriguez in the 70’s might notice the narrative smoothing over some “cold facts”. The humility of Rodriguez himself and his music, which holds up pretty well after 40 years, and helped this bag an Academy Award for Best Documentary.