Rodriguez's singing and music awakened the oppressed people of South Africa in the 70s, people sang his songs and marched in the streets to protest for the right to freedom. Almost every family has a record of him, and some even have his tattoo, and then people in South Africa learned of his death and mourned his untimely death. In the United States, producers and record company owners think he is more gifted and talented than Bob Dylan, but his record has been released and no one cares, selling a total of 6 records. He then disappeared, and everyone thought he was dead. In fact, he has been living an ordinary life. His daily job is to build houses and build roofs for people.
Music journalists spent years finding him. He lives in a dilapidated house in Detroit. With the passage of time, Rodriguez, who lived an ordinary blue-collar life, still exudes the temperament of an artist. Although he lives the life of a low-level laborer, his attitude towards life and the way of educating his daughter are still the way of an artist. After Rodriguez was found by reporters, he began to arrange a concert in South Africa. In South Africa, his popularity was unprecedented. People welcomed him like a hero. The audience cheered, and everyone didn't seem to care about his singing. They were satisfied just seeing him. He stood on the stage with a peaceful face and sang old songs from decades ago, and the people in the audience sang along with him. He held a total of 6 concerts in South Africa, and they were sold out. Back in the United States, he still lives an ordinary life, and his mentality has always kept a low profile and humility. The South African concert did not increase his popularity in the United States, nor did it bring him a prosperous life. His daughter said that Rodrigues' talent did not bring wealth to himself, but enriched others (record labels, piracy, etc.). He went on to give more than 30 concerts in South Africa, and all the proceeds went to his family and friends. And he himself, still living in the old house that he has lived in for more than 40 years, lives an ordinary life as usual.
I was deeply moved by Rodrigues' charisma, and I watched the second half of the film in tears. By the end of the documentary, the image of Rodrigues smiling at the window of his old house stuck in my mind. The documentary that touched me before was "Grizzly Man", and "Finding Sugar Man" is even more shocking. Rodriguez's charisma is the soul of the entire documentary. If other musicians have a chance to become popular, they may not take it as calmly as Rodriguez. Rodriguez has always maintained his unpretentious personality, no matter whether life is up or down. As a low-level laborer, he maintains the temperament of an artist, and as a musician, he maintains the simplicity of a laborer. This is the real artist, who simply makes music and shares his music with the world, leaving money and fame and fortune behind. Decades of blue-collar life have honed his down-to-earth character. His daughter said that during the concert, they stayed in the luxury VIP room of the hotel, but he slept on the sofa. The daughter asked him why he didn't sleep in the bed, and he said: "If I sleep in the bed, the second God, the service staff have to make the bed again, I don't want to trouble them." He said that his life has now become two identities, one is a South African star and hero; the other is an ordinary American and a low-level laborer. Through the promotion of the 2013 Oscar's best documentary "Looking for Sugar Man" and the media hype, his popularity has continued to increase, but his simplicity and humility as a laborer will never change his attitude as a human being. This kind of attitude is the spiritual level that most people can't reach, and it is also the most admirable!
His deeds will inspire generations to become a legend. I'm a big fan of him now! His music is also unpretentious and touching, with melodious and catchy melody. The lyrics convey his life graciously and straightforwardly.
View more about Searching for Sugar Man reviews
