Film Review "Looking for Little Sugar Man"

——2020.2

Don Quixote declared: "God let me be born in an iron age, just to recall the golden age, that is, the golden age."

Don Quixote, born after the fall of chivalry, and sixto rodriguez, the hero of the documentary Looking for Little Sugar Man, a folk singer born in Detroit, USA, have some fate spanning the century. Don Quixote's heart is a knight's heart, his sincerity and loyalty are knight's loyalty, and his spear and shield are knight's equipment. However, for him, the glorious chivalry is an old dream that can only be traced back in the fog. "Looking for Little Sugar Man" also begins with an untimely lament: in Detroit in the 1970s, a talented bar singer was discovered by a music agent. Both a well-known producer and an old brokerage firm have asserted that he will set off great waves in the American music scene, but after the album was released, it sank into the sea. Until this neglected music crossed the ocean and went to South Africa to burn a raging fire, which also ignited an unexpected musical legend.

Readers who have seen the film Cry for Land and Cry for Freedom, or who have studied the history of South Africa a little, can easily imagine the real human tragedy under apartheid. The government's policy of white supremacy and anti-humanity is like a raging flood and mud flow, which rushes black people from their homes where they have lived for generations to the wild frontier. Cross-racial lovers were forced to separate, and the elderly father shed weak tears in the face of his son who was classified as colored. The shackles of politics have pulled up an iron net in people's lives, and also covered the mouths of rebels and the eyes of people of insight. Even if there is a violent crackdown ahead, countless young people who are willing to risk their lives put forward protest slogans again and again, and they are pushed and hit by dark guns again and again, forcing them back to the tight encirclement cage. There is a frightening silence in the dark cage, like boiling water, and long-standing anger rolls under the water. And history has never given a tipping point. Rodriguez's songs can't stir up any waves when the economy is in recession, but it's hard to hide the prosperity of the United States. But these anti-system lyrics are no different in the ears of South African youth-it's not difficult to predict the next scene-pure, powerful and calm expressions of ridicule and resistance, as well as the voices of South Africans, poor young people living at the bottom of the United States and young people under the iron drum rule of South Africa.

The audience who admire the indomitable personality will of the movie hero will probably be surprised by Rodriguez's life experience and unusual personality charm. After the album was released in the United States, poor sales and several tours failed to mention its fame, which made Rodriguez lose his job as a singer two weeks before Christmas. Instead, he returned to the construction site without curve to save the country and save his strength. Focusing on manual labor and singing seems to be the same interest and challenge to him, which does not hinder his already rich spiritual world. The most significant thing is Rodriguez's smile when he learned that this record was widely circulated in South Africa. When he heard that he had made such a great achievement, no one could fail to smile. Genes passed down from generation to generation are engraved with human desire for identity, but the degree of expression varies from person to person. However, it is such an ordinary person with natural humanity who is willing to give up his career as a singer after being praised by the world in the industry. Even when he became the "music leader" of South Africa, he still traded a piece of dust for a meager income in Detroit day after day. This introverted and plain life is far dumber than the ups and downs of life.

Documentary with Rodriguez's album songs throughout, straightforward and emotional lyrics to predict and lead the story. In the first half of the story, exciting suspense factors are added. People who are closely related to the protagonist appear one after another, and narratives of different identities gradually complete Rodriguez's portrait. However, his bizarre fate and identity are still isolated in the fog of rumors in South Africa and the United States, which makes the audience curious and wants to find the truth with South African music detectives. It is worth mentioning that the film also creatively uses silhouette animation, which complements the interview pictures and historical video materials, and is accompanied by melodious and clear singing, making this film a gripping audio-visual feast.

Malik bendjelloul, the director of Looking for Little Sugar Man, spent three years independently making this documentary, which was almost bankrupt. Fortunately, this story that fascinated him deeply also touched senior fans. The film won 43 international awards, including the Best Documentary Novel Award of the 20 13 Academy Awards, and also scored 96% on rotten tomatoes, a professional American film review website. In addition to the visual effect guaranteed by word of mouth, this film is also the best choice for those who are still confused about the meaning of life and want to seek more possibilities. Many hidden philosophies can touch them and benefit them a lot.