The whole story of Sugar Man was set up between the release of Rodriguez's record in the 1970s and his invitation to a concert in South Africa in 1998, but the film was released in 2012, and many important events had already happened when the film was made. It has been passed, so the film uses a lot of second-hand information, and the film is mainly composed of return visits from the parties.
In this way, how to tell the story, the photographer has a lot of things to plan, for example, to fully collect data before shooting, and to design who to choose, what questions to ask, what images to use, how to write commentary, and finally In video, the story does not come out to the viewer spontaneously as events unfold.
My feeling for this film is top-heavy. The opening of Rodriguez's influence in South Africa is very special. In the second half, people are still widely praised for his quality, but it has not been implemented to his "disappearance". details of life over the years. The narratives of the co-workers and daughters were sparse, focusing on what kind of person he was, but little on what he did. Facts are supposed to be more moving than opinions, so the stories are boring. What I feel from the film is that the process of finding the protagonist is too simple; the protagonist Rodriguez's poor words; the lack of description of the protagonist's daily life. Extraordinary significance of the times, vague character depiction, this is another typical god-building movement.
The details are not enough, the feelings come together. The director's inability to describe the characters plainly and to control the flood of emotions in the film may just show that the character of Rodriguez itself is not important. People rediscover this character because this character pinned people's strong feelings towards the left-wing movement in the 1960s and 1970s. The nostalgic mood, however, the characters written out of the background of a specific era can't help but flow into emptiness. Rodriguez's dull life in recent years cannot bear the expectations of the audience, so the real details have become something that the director needs to avoid in the images.
A pair of very good contrasts came out. Rodriguez, who faced the camera, was speechless. The music he created faced his own life, such as drinking water and knowing himself, without much to say; while the onlookers (audience, director) However, he tried his best to sing praises, but he wanted to elevate his personal value and musical significance. At the end of the film, the sublimation of Rodriguez was completed by his co-worker. This ordinary worker just said a bunch of hypocritical praise, and he naturally had to look at the commentary written next to the camera from time to time. , I couldn't help but laugh at the end.
Rodriguez is a construction worker, his job only needs to face himself, he doesn't have to be grandstanding, so he at least guarantees that his feelings are honest, unlike some so-called rock old guns, who are deluded by people's praise, on the surface The rebellious image to cater to the public, but all the time do not want to make more money. This is indeed a valuable quality in an impetuous society.
A few details are quite touching. Rodriguez's records are selling well in South Africa, but he has not received the financial return he deserves from his boss. Rodriguez's calmness contrasts with the vicious cunning of the record owner; Rodriguez Although Gus's family is ordinary, he still takes his children to appreciate art and read books, trying his best to let his children live a spiritual life that can be lived by the rich. What is touching are these true descriptions of personal situations. Rodriguez lived according to his own wishes, lived the life he chose, neither humble nor arrogant, but did not become a public opinion leader and cultural symbol, and lost himself in the hype.
And when will the onlookers who like to create gods and watch the excitement face their personal life honestly instead of falling into false fanaticism and self-movement?
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