In the year following Sugar Man's Oscar win, Rodriguez has toured the United States, many of which are held in venues with more than 10,000 people, and almost every show sells out quickly. Not long ago, Rodriguez went to the legendary Beacon Theatre on Broadway in New York for a concert. The Washington Post conservatively estimates that Rodriguez's tour revenue this year will be at least a few million dollars.
At the Oscars, the director said: "I thank Sony Pictures, the film's distributor in the United States, they are the best distributor in the world". I've been wondering if the film was made by someone who had no connection in the film industry, or if Sony Pictures Classics didn't end up buying the rights for $500,000, or if someone at the distribution party finally decided not to push it. The movie, the story told in this movie will never be known by so many people, and there will be no Rodriguez tour in the United States now, and so many people will not know that there is such a beautiful music. Find.
I have reason to be so skeptical, because, all over the world, too, too, too many people are making movies. I know some documentary directors, you never hear their names, but they've been making movies all their lives, some of them should be at retirement age, and you'll probably never see any of their films, these The movie just disappeared into the long river of history, and only a very small group of people know about it.
What moved me more in this film was actually the people who initially saw Rodriguez and helped him release records. When they talk about Rodriguez now, the light in their eyes is so sincere, you can feel their emotions when they are touched by Rodriguez for the first time through the screen. They just don't understand why, with such a talented guy, his records just don't sell. I love avant, he's so cynical and so realistic, he's the most real in the whole movie, and of course there's a lot of unspoken record-industry stuff behind him.
Of course, there are many, many Rodriguez who never even released a record and just write and sing songs in their dingy, damp ghetto apartments. At most family members or friends come to see their performances. I know some filmmakers, one of them is very young, so he made a short film. The theme of the work is very unique, but it is still very ordinary from the perspective of filmology. Appeared in many top mainstream media. If you go to Vimeo, there are a lot of really good shorts out there, but most people don't even have the last chance in mainstream media. So, the real situation of this society is: there are many, many directors like Malik who may have made a shocking story, but no one will ever know.
However, such a conclusion may also be wrong, because there are many people without any background or relationship, and their works are eventually recognized by society. A lot of times, you'll find people who are really successful who love their careers so much that they can't stop thinking about what they love, and they'll do everything in their power to move toward their goals. Of course, they are born with qualities that push them to find a way forward before encountering anything that stands in the way of their success.
So, does success depend on luck or strength? I think it should be both. But the most important thing is to persevere, observe the world quietly, and move toward your goals—no matter how many failures and setbacks you encounter. If you haven't achieved the goal you set for yourself in this life, then in the next life, but don't give up your dream, don't be in a hurry, as long as you know your story yourself is enough. If no one ever knows, so what? Like Rodriguez, he's so calm whenever he's on The Tonight Show or on a construction site.
One of the interviews that left a deep impression on me was from a co-worker of Rodriguez, who said that Rodriguez would sometimes wear a tuxedo to work on the site. Maybe that explains why Rodriguez ended up being an extraordinary figure.
View more about Searching for Sugar Man reviews
