Written by Sarah Chapman

Make hay for May! Now that we have some mild weather to enjoy, it’s the perfect time to get cosy and enjoy our movie recommendations for this month. In the May 2021 edition of Netflix & Change, you will be inspired by the life and music of Rodrigues, a Detroit-based musician who became a cultural icon in South Africa, get informed on regenerative agriculture and how it can help the environment, and gain awareness of the atrocities of the Rwandan genocide and one man’s efforts to save his people.

Grab your popcorn and get comfortable! 🍿 🛋️

1. Searching for Sugarman

The surreal story of unknown fame

Treats

Searching for Sugar Man tells the unlikely story of the search for American-born folk musician, Sixto Rodrigues. Rodriques never achieved success and was living in obscurity in his home country, while he had become a cultural icon in 1970s South Africa. After hearing rumours of his death, 2 South African fans set out to find out what had happened to him, only to discover that he was very much alive and completely unaware of his fame halfway across the world.

Takeaways

The film gets its name from one of Rodriques’s most well-known songs, Sugar Man, which was released on his first album, Cold Fact. His music was the soundtrack of a generation growing up in apartheid South Africa and inspired an anti-establishment mentality. Despite this, he was an absolute enigma. His music, and the sensational nature of his rumoured suicide, was all that was known of him. ‘Searching for Sugar Man’ draws you into this fascinating quest and leaves you with a renewed appreciation for the life and music of Rodrigues along the way.

2. Kiss the Ground

“A climate change solution that’s right under our feet.”

Treats

Narrated by Woody Harrelson, Kiss the Ground details how the earth’s soil may be the key to reversing global warming. The documentary argues that through regenerative agriculture we may be able to mitigate climate change. Regenerative agriculture is accomplished through practices like minimal or zero tilling, crop rotation, and abstaining from using pesticides.

Takeaways

While most documentaries about climate change can sometimes leave you feeling a bit helpless, Kiss The Ground offers a solution on how to heal our planet, through ethical farming practices. The film leaves you with a strong sense of optimism that humanity might be able to right our environmental wrongs.

3. Hotel Rwanda

“How can they not intervene when they witness such atrocities?”

Treats

Hotel Rwanda is based on the true story of hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina’s efforts to save more than 1.000 refugees during one of the worst atrocities in history. Rusesabagina, who managed Hôtel des Mille Collines, allowed Tutsi and Hutu asylum seekers to take refuge in the hotel after the civil war erupted. The film keeps you at the edge of your seat as Rusesabagina risks his life and the lives of his family members in order to source food and protect the refugees from being discovered.

Takeaways

The film will give you insight into the atrocities that occurred during the Rwandan genocide. It focuses on how one ordinary man heroically came to the rescue of hundreds of people in a time of crisis. Hotel Rwanda will leave you with a sense of hope for humanity as you witness true strength of character and courage in the face of adversity. However, it also highlights the political corruption and excessive violence that was rife during this period.

In this edition, we wanted to share the incredible story of the search for a cultural icon in South Africa, inform you about a viable solution to global warming that exists just under our feet, and inspire you with one man’s courage and persistence to save his countrymen.

With our Netflix & Change series, we aim to provide you with movie suggestions that are not only entertaining but informational as well. Missed a month? Don’t sweat it, head over to our blog to view some of our other editions.