The Enigmatic Story of Rodriguez

Released in July 2012 in just three theaters, the film went on to screen in 150 theaters across the US, achieving an unusually massive hit for a documentary. It also garnered significant attention for sweeping numerous awards, including the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival, and the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Where did Bendjelloul first hear this fairy tale?

"It was six years ago. I was traveling the world with a video camera, searching for a theme for my next film for about six months. Then, one day, a record store owner I met in South Africa told me an incredible story about a musician. It was a shock to my entire being! 'This is what I've been looking for!' I spent the next four years almost entirely consumed by this film."



"His songs inspired a movement." This statement in the film highlights the profound impact Rodriguez had on South Africa. He became an icon symbolizing resistance against authority, continuously inspiring the youth.

"When I was young, apartheid was constantly in the news, but after Mandela's presidency, we hardly heard about it. It's strange to think that for about 50 years, even into the mid-1990s, there was a country with an ideology close to Hitler's Third Reich. We need to learn more about this era. I myself knew nothing about the white liberal resistance movement until I became involved with this film."



Thus, Rodriguez achieved superstar status in his adopted country. But it wasn't just the youth of South Africa who were captivated. The producers who worked on his albums, including major figures who had worked with Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and The Supremes, all spoke glowingly of him in the film.

"To them, Rodriguez was even more significant than those superstars. And yet, he never achieved any success... Why wasn't he accepted in America? There are many reasons, I believe, but one of them is his name. In America at that time, Hispanic names evoked mariachi music, and in the rock scene, which was very exclusive and dominated by white artists, competing on the same stage as Lou Reed or Bob Dylan was an incredibly difficult challenge."

*Mariachi: A unique ensemble originating in Mexico, and its music. (Source: Digital Daijisen)

Tracing Rodriguez's Fate, Which Became an Urban Legend

A commercial disaster in America, yet a popularity rivaling The Beatles in South Africa. In the mid-1990s, the gap between these two nations, which had remained unbridged for nearly 20 years, was about to be closed by two fervent fans.

"Remarkably, only Rodriguez's music was known in South Africa. No one knew what he looked like, let alone his personality or whereabouts. Instead, various death theories circulated like urban legends, such as 'he committed suicide by setting himself on fire on stage' or 'he shot himself in the head.' So, two individuals—a music journalist living in South Africa and a record store owner—took it upon themselves to uncover the truth behind the rumors."




They pursued their investigation with limited clues. However, when their research hit a dead end, they created a website to solicit information, only to be confronted with astonishing revelations.──The story unfolds following their footsteps, making us feel like participants in a treasure hunt.

"I learned anew from them the importance of pursuing one's convictions. Without their desire to know more about Rodriguez and their subsequent actions, this miraculous story surrounding him would never have seen the light of day."

And Rodriguez himself was someone who pursued his own path without being swayed by external voices.

"Rodriguez was apparently told to change his Hispanic name. When they suggested, 'No, I won't,' and even 'Then why not change it to Robert Rodriguez and go by Rob?', he steadfastly refused to change his name. It might seem stubborn, but he was always true to himself. That's the simplest way to put it. Compromising his dream might have brought success and money, but he showed us that there's another way. He said what he wanted to say and waited for the day his music would be accepted. Ultimately, he found his fans in his own way."



Malik Bendjelloul
Born September 14, 1977. After working as a musician, he became a talented young documentary filmmaker based in Stockholm, Sweden. In 2001, he directed the first documentary on electronic music pioneer Kraftwerk, and has since produced documentary series on the history of heavy metal, as well as documentaries on renowned artists such as Björk, Sting, Madonna, U2, Kylie Minogue, and Prince. He also served as director and creative producer for the Swedish culture program "Kobra" and has produced numerous short documentaries across various fields.

SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN
Opening nationwide on Saturday, March 16th, at Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho and other theaters.
Directed, Produced, Filmed, and Edited by Malik Bendjelloul
Starring: Rodriguez
Distributed by Kadokawa Pictures
2012 / Sweden, UK / 85 minutes
http://www.sugarman.jp/

© Canfield Pictures / The Documentary Company 2012