It is truly an inspiring movie of how two Cape Town, South African individuals (a record shop owner and a journalist) who both happened to love the haunting guitar songs of an unknown American musician Sixto Rodriguez go on a hunt for information about him. There had been a myth that Rodriguez had committed suicide while on stage, after only producing two record albums, “Cold Fact” in 1970 and “Coming From Reality” in 1971. Rodriguez had been wildly popular back then in South Africa, but his poetic music had not caught on anywhere else including Detroit, Michigan where he had been singing in bars as a young man.

The documentary is interspersed with songs by Rodriguez, and is basically the story of how the two fans found him years later via the internet and one of his 3 daughters, and how they brought him to South Africa in March, 1998 where he is considered a super star. He performed there in six sold-out concerts before thousands of fans. But back in Detroit he lives alone and is not a rich man, doing construction/renovation/demolition work.

What is amazing and heartfelt about this movie is the love of the white South Africans for this mysterious Hispanic male singer, considering their history of apartheid, which was abolished officially in 1990. And despite the sudden fame, Rodriguez remained humble and unassuming.

If you don’t know of Rodriguez (I didn’t) this is an inspiring, unusual movie considering the distance and cultural differences between impoverished Detroit, Michigan and Cape Town, South Africa.

Find out on Feb. 24 if this film wins the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. I’ve also seen two other films in that category, “The Invisible War” (about rape/sexual assault in the U.S. military) and “Five Broken Cameras” (about the Israeli border wall on the West Bank, and non violent Palestinian demonstrations against it over a 5 year period).

UPDATE: Save the date for April 19, as Rodriguez is coming to the AVA Amphitheater due to popular demand (no longer at the Rialto Theater, which was too small for the large # of fans):
http://www.rialtotheatre.com/news/archives/2013/02/rodriguez_at_av.html

UPDATE 2/24/13: “Searching for Sugar Man” wins Best Documentary Feature Oscar at 2013 Academy Awards. See this movie, still playing at the Crossroads Festival movie theater, though only once a day right now.

From Oscar and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Kirby Dick (This Film Is Not Yet Rated; Twist of Faith) comes THE INVISIBLE WAR, a groundbreaking investigative documentary about one of America’s most shameful and best kept secrets: the epidemic of rape within the U.S. military. The film paints a startling picture of the extent of the problem – today, a female soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire. The Department of Defense estimates there were a staggering 19,300 service members sexually assaulted in 2010 alone.

Focusing on the powerfully emotional stories of several young women, the film reveals the systemic cover up of the crimes against them and follows their struggles to rebuild their lives and fight for justice. THE INVISIBLE WAR features hard-hitting interviews with high-ranking military officials and members of Congress that reveal the perfect storm conditions that exist for rape in the military, its history of cover-up, and what can be done to bring about much needed change.

Opening at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway, on Friday July 20. Director Kirby Dirk will be present on Friday and Saturday of this opening weekend, at 7 p.m. and will participate in Q & A about the film.

Regular admission prices will apply:
Adult $9.00
Senior(65+) $6.00
Child(12 & Under) $6.00
Matinee $6.50 (any screening before 6 pm on weekdays, and before 2 pm on weekends and holidays)
Student, Military, Teacher $7.00
Member $5.00

This film is co-presented by The Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona. http://www.womengiving.org/

11/13/12: Finally viewed this film at the Human Right Watch film series, and it is a provocative documentary about the insidiousness & prevalence of rape in all branches of our U.S. military, indicating that 20% of women are raped in the military, but many more do not report it due to “professional retaliation”. A lawsuit by 16 women plaintiffs was dismissed citing that sexual assault is an “occupational” hazard of service. One wonders why young women would enlist today.