Searching for Sugar Man

I am heart-sick over the news that Malik Bendjelloul, the director whose documentary “Searching for Sugar Man” won an academy award last year, has killed himself. The Swedish film director was just 36 years old and left behind a grieving family that called him a man who “chased the world for stories to tell.”
“Searching for Sugar Man” won major awards from the Oscars to the writers guilds, as well as awards at the Sundance Film Festival. The movie also gave Sugar Man Rodriguez back the life in the spotlight he so richly deserves. He opened my eyes to a great talent who’s music moves me despite me being just 18 yrs old, and I have had the good fortune of being able to see him perform live twice. Once was at a concert, but the first was at the Traverse City Film Festival when he surprised the audience by performing a few songs after the showing of the film “Searching for Sugar Man.”

I also count myself lucky that I got to meet Malik Bendjelloul while working at the festival. I do not understand what drives one to kill them-self, but I saw nothing that game me any insight as to why he would have taken his own life. He was talented, personable modest and kind. His death is a great loss.

Lane J. Lubell

Searching for Sugar Man.

About Lane J. Lubell
When I began this site, I was a student at "The Latin School of Chicago, and it consumed the majority of my waking hours, the remaining time was split between, making movies, hanging with friends, and spending time with family. Toss in eating and a few hours of sleep; and there was not all that much time left over. I provided that explanation to lower expectation of daily posts, and to point out that simply because I did not review a given film does not mean I did not find it worthy; more likely, homework took precedence. I am now attending Northwestern University where I'm enrolled in RTVF (Radio, Television, Video and Film) department. While I was very happy at Latin, and still go back to see each theater performance; I'm glad to be done with AP Calculus, and love that I get to take a larger percentage of classes focusing on literature, philosophy ,writing and film. I'm still just getting my feet wet here, but I have met some people that share my love of film and theater and we are already planing on some collaborations. Who knows, maybe I could even get a few of them to post a review here on CinemaShadow.com . I made this site not to "Talk to people" about films; but to 'Talk with People" about films. To that end; I would love to have others post comments, list their favorite movies, recommend films, new and old, that you think are worth watching.

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