Searching for Sugar Man

Just more than a year ago, my husband and I were at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah for the première of Searching for Sugar Man... I blogged about it here and here. The documentary (directed by Malik Bendjelloul) is based on my husband, Craig Bartholomew-Strydom's 1997 article about 'finding' musician Sixto Rodriguez. So much has happened since that snowy January. The film has just won the Oscar for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards. We are beside ourselves...

And here is Craig holding the majestic statuette. "Heavy as a dumbbell" is how he described it! What a whirlwind...

Read an amusing Baltimore Sun article about his experience here...

Searching for Sugar Man - Tribeca, New York

Being at the Tribeca Film Festival for Searching for Sugar Man was a trip. And, at the risk of sounding desperately name-drop-ish, we were absolutely starstruck when we spotted Michael Moore in the audience. He stayed to chat to us specifically. What an approachable, down-to-earth, sweet, awesome and genuinely humble person. 

Here is a short photo-essay of the whirl-wind 36 hours we spent devouring as much as we could... of the big apple.

Chelsea Market

Doorway near Chelsea Market

Graffiti on Perry (West Village)

Porthole to the rooms - The Jane Hotel

Bottle, coasters and glasses in rooms - The Jane Hotel

Malik Bendjelloul, Michael Moore and Craig Bartholomew Strydom (husband)

Opted for vintage safari dress in honor of heritage (and 'cause it isn't too tight!)

Luggage ready for car

A portion of the High Line in the West Village

Lunch at Republic, Union Square (with daughter)

Classic Soho

Detail - Soho

Sundance Film Festival II

While those around us (producers, writers, directors) were caught up in their own dilemmas such as whether their films would be successful or not, the only dilemma I was ensnared in was what to wear. (What can a girl do?) Sundance may be the world's premier documentary festival, but Cannes it is not — in terms of dress. For one, it takes place in winter. Two, at 7,000 ft above sea level. Shoes have to be both fashionable and functional. High heels and snow don't gel. Fur coats and frost don't fraternize (and besides Sundance people are PETA-conscious). So it was with a heavy heart that I had to nix my vintage silver and fur-trimmed dress, and with an even heavier heart, my matching coat and accessories. Sartorial challenges aside, the poignancy of Searching for Sugar Man - directed by Malik Bendjelloul and produced by Oscar winners Simon Chinn (Man on Wire) and John Battsek (One Day in September) - made (for once) the dictates of fashion quite inconsequential. Don't miss this film whatever your attire...

Director Malik Bendjelloul flanked by John Battsek and Simon Chinn
(Searching for Sugar Man)

Some of the films at the festival

Such a great pic of Maggie Gyllenhaal

Yours truly

Loved this poster

The Imposter looks amazing (also Chinn and Battsek)

More fashion-in-the-snow moments at Sundance...

Kate Bosworth

Liv Tyler

Kate Bosworth and Michael Polish

A post-festival whirlwind tour through a rain-drenched Salt Lake City, produced (if Mormon architecture is anything to go by), an almost religious feeling...

And some Hipsta's...

Most extraordinary long grass - like a lion's mane

Salt Lake Mormon Temple

Closer to the Temple

 
We literally galloped through an amazing antique store called Anthony's Fine Art and Antiques in Salt Lake City. Next time, an entire afternoon needed...

Loved this oil of a nude (angle of the shot makes it look odd)

Best antler chandeliers EVER

A private performance by Rodriguez (pinch-myself moment). He always plays with his back to the audience...

Photographs by Craig Strydom and Philippa Berrington-Blew
(Pics of Liv Tyler, Kate Bosworth via here)

Sundance Film Festival

So, off to Park City, Utah for Sundance. My husband is in a movie, actually a documentary to be exact. Will report back on Monday. (Side note: I think it will be a little chilly for bobby argyles, but Catherine Deneuve rocks them big time...)

Image source unknown (if anyone has details, I would love to know)