Searching for Sugar Man

After both of his albums failed to gain recognition in the 1970s, singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez disappeared from the scene. Rumors of a dramatic suicide onstage became his legacy, but in reality he was living in Detroit and doing manual labor to make ends meet. A few decades later, his music was rediscovered in South Africa, where he became a cult hero. In this documentary, co-workers and family members describe Rodriguez's life before his rebirth, painting a picture of a man who worked for social justice. It's almost shocking that this quiet, reserved father earned both the ire of officials and the admiration of youth in South Africa for his songs about sex, drugs, and fighting the establishment.