Original version

BBC Four

BBC 4

Storyville

Documentaries

Films

Factual

Amazing, shocking, inspiring and award-winning - the best in international documentaries.

Amazing, shocking, inspiring and award-winning - the best in international documentaries, shining a light on untold stories from across the globe.

BBC Four HD

Malik Bendjelloul

Simon Chinn

John Battsek

Nick Fraser

Storyville: Searching for Sugar Man

Factual: Life Stories

Music: Classic Pop & Rock

Searching for Sugar Man

30/05/2014

BBC Four - Storyville, Searching for Sugar Man

How forgotten 1960s American rocker Sixto Rodriguez became a phenomenon in South Africa.

Film which tells the story of how 60s American rocker Sixto Rodriguez became a phenomenon in South Africa after two fans turned detectives to find out what really happened to him.

Oscar-winning documentary which tells the remarkable story of the American rock icon who never was. With a great soundtrack, moving interviews and a breathtaking twist, this is the ultimate film about the resonating power of music. 

In the late 60s, Detroit-based singer Sixto Rodriguez was momentarily hailed as the finest recording artist of his generation. But when his album bombed, he disappeared into oblivion amid rumours of a gruesome onstage suicide. The film tells the astonishing story of how a bootleg recording found its way into apartheid South Africa and became a phenomenon. Two South African fans turned detectives to find out what really happened to their hero. Their investigation led them to a story more extraordinary than any of the existing myths about the artist known as Rodriguez. This is a film about hope, inspiration and the realisation of deferred dreams.

The film is directed by Malik Bendjelloul who sadly died in May 2014.

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Storyville

Searching for Sugar Man

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC Four

About BBC Four