Rodriguez and Malik Bendjelloul at the Los Angeles press conference in 2012.
We at FNB were sad to learn of Malik Bendjelloul’s death on Tuesday in Stockholm. Mr. Bendjelloul won the Oscar in 2013 for his film “Searching for Sugar Man,” a deeply touching documentary about Detroit-born 1970s singer Sixto Rodriguez, who fell into obscurity in the U.S. but was revered in South Africa and elsewhere.
“I thought I’d never heard a better story in my life and would never hear a better story,” said Mr. Bendjelloul in 2012. “It was like somebody had written this wonderful script, except it was a real story. And it was a blessed story; every time I lifted a stone there was another gold coin. It was so much richer than I ever could have imagined.”
We met Mr. Bendjelloul and Rodriguez when they were in Los Angeles to promote the film in July 2012. At that time, Mr. Bendjelloul was brimming with enthusiasm for the film and Rodriguez’s revived career. He struck us as an uncommonly talented filmmaker and we remember his intelligence, humility and low-key humor.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Bendjelloul’s family.
From FNB readers