Rick Emerson: "He’s like the silkworm, you know? You take this
raw material, and you transform it. You come out with something that wasn’t
there before. Something beautiful. Something perhaps transcendent. Something
perhaps eternal"
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Amongst the various people interviewed throughout this documentary, an idea tends to repeat itself: That the story of Rodriguez- a man as famous as Elvis in South Africa yet completely unknown in America- is impossible and unbelievable. The air of mystery that surrounds Rodriguez emphasizes that point, turning him into a legend and a character before introducing him as a normal person. The documentary has momentum, but it comes from an informal place:
This beautifully made documentary moves and survives solely on passion. Be it the incredible cinematography showing the landscapes of Cape May, the animated and visually pleasing "music video" sequences set to Rodriguez's songs, or the eccentric, excited, and humbled sound bites from family members, friends, and fans-turned-musicologists- this documentary is saturated with a passion! You can tell the director felt very strongly about making this film and that he involved people who felt the same as he did. The story of Rodriguez is truly a remarkable and unbelievable one, and yet it manages to still be relatable. Certain interviews touch on an emotional core that transcends Rodriguez's story and reflect more universal feelings, which I really enjoyed.
Searching for Sugarman got a lot of attention last year, with an handful of nominations, and an abundance of playing-time at more independent theaters. If someone recommended this movie to you, I strongly recommend you watch it with them. I was lucky enough to watch this film with someone who had already seen it and it made the experience better. To watch a passionately-made documentary with someone who is passionate about the film itself creates a very enriching atmosphere around the film that won't disappoint.
Or just watch it by yourself. You're call.
Still, the soundtrack is great- Rodriguez is a really good musician and that actually surprised me at first. You'd think with a film about an obscure rock-star their music would border on "okay", but mid-way through one of the "music video" sequences I thought to myself: "Wow... this sounds a lot like Dylan... Yet it has something that Dylan didn't... Wow, this is actually really good." It was a pleasant surprise.
My only problem with the film deals with its impact on its subject. Rodriguez's life and story is brilliant in its authenticity. While I'm away that Rodriguez has separated himself from the film's success, it's tough to shake the feeling that we- the audience- have intruded on something that was pure and special.
But that's just my opinion. Hope you enjoy the film!
