Kalamazoo Film Society presents 'Searching for Sugar Man'

Contact: Cara Barnes
Photo of Rodriquez, star of "Searching for Sugar Man"

"Searching for Sugar Man" at the Little Theatre Dec. 7-9

KALAMAZOO—The Kalamazoo Film Society will present "Searching for Sugar Man" Friday through Sunday, Dec. 7-9, at Western Michigan University's Little Theatre.

Show times are 5, 7 and 9 p.m. Friday; 4:30, 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30, 5 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5.

"Searching for Sugar Man" tells the incredible true story of Rodriguez, the greatest 1970s rock icon who never was. Discovered in a Detroit bar in the late 1960s by two celebrated producers struck by his soulful melodies and prophetic lyrics, they recorded an album, which they believed would secure his reputation as the greatest recording artist of his generation. In fact, the album bombed and the singer disappeared into obscurity amid rumors of a gruesome on-stage suicide.

However, a bootleg recording found its way into apartheid South Africa and, over the next two decades, he became a phenomenon, prompting two South African fans to try to find out what really happened to their hero. Their investigation leads them to a story more extraordinary than any of the existing myths about the artist known as Rodriguez. The film, already generating a great deal of Oscar buzz, is an inspiring celebration of the power of music.

Starring Sixto Rodriquez and Dennis Coffey, and written and directed by Malik Bendejelloul, the film is rated PG-13 for drug references with a run time of 85 minutes.

Parking and directions

The Little Theatre is located at the corner of Oakland Drive and Oliver Lane on WMU's East Campus. Free off-street parking is available behind the theatre.

For more information, visit kalfilmsociety.net, contact the Kalamazoo Film Society at kalfilmsociety@yahoo.com, or call the Little Theatre movie line at (269) 387-8221.