As I was reading the news a few days ago and came across the suicide of a 36 year old Academy and Bafta award winner I instantaneously asked myself the almost obvious question - why should a promising young producer have put an end to his life ... before even having taken notice of who the person was they were referring to ...
It wasn't but a few moments later that Malik Bendjelloul's name rang a bell and I realised I had recently bought the documentary that ultimately brought him such notoriety. I hadn't watched it yet, though I must confess I felt an immediate urge to, as if praising his life achievement might "bring him to life", which is in a way what he did (I would find out later) by bringing back to life a myth of the 70's, a rather mysterious American singer, Sixto Rodriguez, whose "Cold Fact" songs had had a tremendous impact in South Africa's youth, an impact only the South Africans seemed to be aware of, once he was virtually unknown in the USA, where he had had his first album produced and had sold 6 records.
Malik Bendjelloul's documentary details the efforts of two Cape Town fans of the late 70's to find out who this Rodriguez really was, what had become of him and whether the rumour of his suicide on stage was true.
The whole documentary is inspiring, powerful and magic, as magic as the poetry of Rodriguez .... his voice and above all who he really is personality wise... his wisdom ... his humbleness ... and his "greatness" in spite of leading a life of hard manual work.
Late in life he was granted the privilege of performing in South Africa for an audience of thousands of supporters who once felt "supported" by him, namely throughout the apartheid period, as well as many who were indirectly affected by decisions taken by the "apartheid" fighting generation.
Many questions were answered though many more were left unanswered ... an aura of mystery will always linger on in regards to Rodriguez and so will it as far as Bendjelloul is concerned ...
An absolute "must" documentary ...
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