‘Sugar Man’ director commits suicide
Print Edition
MALIK Bendjelloul, the Swedish director of the acclaimed “Searching for Sugar Man” documentary, was widely known for his enthusiasm, kindness and high spirits — so the news yesterday that he had taken his own life shocked colleagues around the world.
Bendjelloul’s brother Johar Bendjelloul confirmed that his 36-year-old younger brother committed suicide on Tuesday. He told daily Aftonbladet that his brother had struggled with depression for a short period.
“Life is not always simple,” Johar Bendjelloul was quoted as saying, adding that receiving the message that his brother had committed suicide was the worst thing he had ever experienced.
“I don’t know how to handle it. I don’t know,” he said.
Police would not comment on the cause of death but said they suspected no foul play.
Bendjelloul rose to international fame in 2013 when his debut feature film, “Searching for Sugar Man,” won an Oscar for best documentary. The film tells the story of Detroit-based singer-songwriter Sixto Rodriguez, who had flopped in the United States but became a superstar in apartheid-era South Africa without even knowing about it.
“He made a great film and will be missed,” US documentary film maker Michael Moore wrote on Twitter.
British film producer Simon Chinn, who produced “Searching for Sugar Man,” said he was shocked and deeply saddened by the news of his friend’s passing.
“It seems so unbelievable,” Chinn said. “He had everything to live for.”
Chinn said he saw Bendjelloul only two weeks ago in London.
“He was so full of life, hope and optimism and happiness, and looking forward to the future and future collaborations,” he said. “The idea that he is no longer is just too hard to process.”
The soft-spoken Bendjelloul worked as a reporter for Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT before resigning to backpack around the world. He got the idea for “Searching for Sugar Man” during one of his trips, but it would take him more than four years to complete the film.
He reached out to Chinn when the film was 90 percent finished, but his main sponsor had withdrawn support, saying the film was lousy.
SVT’s culture chief Eva Beckman praised Bendjelloul’s strong storytelling skills and his willingness to experiment with new formats. “What really set him apart from everybody else was his passion for storytelling. He was a fantastic storyteller,” she said.
The film’s success led to a career rebirth for Rodriguez, who has been touring and introducing audiences to the songs he wrote four decades ago. He was performing in Detroit on Tuesday night.
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