These are the days of miracle and wonder

Cause once in a while a movie comes along that moves your soul and reminds you that sometimes life is more astonishing than any fairytale and that cinema holds the power to irrevocably change a life. "Searching for Sugar Man" is definitely one of those movies. A vagabond, a poet, a wise man roamed the streets of Detroit in the 70s, hanging out on street corners, writing beautiful poetry that he recited in smoky bars with his back turned to the audience. Sixto Rodriguez recorded two albums, "Cold Fact"and "Coming from Reality" in the early 70s, whose lyrical storytelling even Bob Dylan would envy. 

Despite the fact  that he never quite made it in the US, through a copy of his album that an American girl took with her when visiting her boyfriend in South Africa, bootleg copies spread through the country and Sixto Rodriguez became the soundtrack of the revolution against the apartheid. His anti-establishment lyrics propelled him into superstardom comparable to that of Elvis and the Beatles whilst an air of mystery surrounded him. 

Unaware of his fame and record sales on the other side of the globe, Rodriguez gave up music and continued working in construction in Detroit. Decades later, two South Africans, a record shop owner, Stephen Segerman, and a music journalist, Craig Bartholomew-Strydom, fascinated by the story of this folk singer from the US who allegedly committed suicide on stage, by setting himself on fire, embarked on a mission to solve the mystery surrounding this artist and his quintessential rock'n'roll suicide. When in 1998 they discovered that Rodriguez was alive and kicking they helped organize a tour in South Africa where he played a series of sold-out concerts for thousands of his fans. Yet it wasn't until last year, when Swedish documentarist Malik Bendjelloul made this masterful movie that Sixto Rodriguez' career actually picked up in the US (he is playing at Coachella this year!)  A truly beautiful documentary about the nature of fame and the unpredictability and brutality of the music industry that rightfully won an academy award. Needless to say this is my favorite movie this year. A must see, cause these are the days of miracle and wonder!  

My favourite Rodriguez song and probably the most heartbreaking one! 

"...While the rain drank champagne
My Estonian Archangel came and got me wasted 
Cause the sweetest kiss I ever got is the one I've never tasted...
And I make 16 solid half hour friendships every evening

Cause your queen of hearts who is half a stone 
And likes to laugh alone is always threatening you with leaving..."