No one knew who Sixto Rodriguez was in America, but unknown to him, half a world away he was a legend. Folk musician Rodriguez released only two records in his hometown of Detroit during the early 1970s, neither of which sold very well. After that, he seemed to disappear. But his albums somehow made their way to South Africa thought, and their working-class rebellion and establishment blues became the soundtrack for the anti-apartheid movement. In South Africa, Rodriguez was bigger than Elvis, but no one knew anything about him. The Swedish/British documentary Searching for Sugar Man follows two South African mega-fans as they try and find out whatever happened to their icon, and if he's even still alive. Saying anything more would be spoiling, but what follows is one of the most surprising, humanistic and inspirational documentaries to arrive this year.
