Searching for Sugarman – the Rodriguez movie deserves to be 2012's "must see"..One of the advantages of smelling the roses is taking spur-of-the-moment decisions. Like putting the Mall shopping trip on hold for a movie. At 11:30 in the morning. Like we did today. A number of our friends have been urging us to go see the recently released movie about American musician Rodriguez..The native of Detroit is a cult figure among White South Africans of my generation. A sub sector of the Rainbow Nation who even today could belt out a verse or three of Sugar Man or I Wonder, the anthems of Rodriguez's anti-Establishment Cold Fact album released on vinyl back in 1970. A record whose success was made all the more remarkable because it by never enjoyed a minute of radio airtime courtesy of the Apartheid State's strict censorship and broadcast monopoly..What few of Rodriguez's South African fans knew, though, was that this poet of our youth was unknown in his homeland. And while we were chanting his lines, the creator had long since given up his singing career after two bombed albums and a bust record label. Earning his daily bread through manual labour..But that's only a small part of the wonderful story that unfolds in Searching For Sugarman, the movie directed by the Swedish journalist Malik Bendjelloul and funded by his Government's film trust. It's been a smash hit everywhere and was the opener at this year's Sundance Festival..The movie has also catapulted Rodriguez, now 70, into the spotlight in his homeland for the first time. Until recently, he'd been unaware of the army of devotees living in the Southern tip of Africa. And had never played to an audience of more than a couple hundred. Now he's on the mass market David Letterman Show and had his life story featured in a recent edition of Sixty Minutes. Introducing Rodriguez to millions of his countrymen for the first time – four decades after his haunting melodies and poetry formed the soundtrack of my generation..The movie documents this incredible human being's life. A story of integrity and humility triumphing over filthy lucre. It's an inspiration for anyone trying to make sense of our muddied world of flexible principles and distorted values. Add in the strong South African connection and you've got the recipe for some of the best 90 minutes you'll invest this year..This is a movie every South African just has to see. Even those who've never heard a singer asking "……how many times you've had sex?" Yet.
