Director: Zachary Heinzerling
Cast: Ushio Shinohara, Noriko Shinohara, Alex Shinohara
Running Time: 82 mins
Synposis: This candid New York love story explores the chaotic 40-year marriage of famed boxing painter Ushio Shinohara and his wife, Noriko. Anxious to shed her role as her overbearing husband’s assistant, Noriko finds an identity of her own.
Debut documentary director Zachary Heinzerling introduces artists Ushio Shinohara and his wife Noriko in their cluttered and cramped apartment on the morning of Ushio’s 80th birthday. His wife has baked and in thanks Ushio tells her “I don’t listen to you, that’s how I stay so young.” An odd, defiant response, met with a heavy silence, which sets the tone for the rest of the documentary. Often restrictive and leaving the audience feeling themselves compressed; the relationship is none-the-less a compelling and captivating watch.
Meeting by chance when Noriko visited Ushio’s New York studio the couple slowly fell in love through their shared love of art and powerful inspiration. Falling pregnant after just 6 months; the couple’s history is told through old home videos interspersed through the documentary where we learn of the struggles Noriko faced to bring up their child in the face of Ushio’s alcoholic tendencies.
CUITE AND THE BOXER is an unconventional love story between these two artists who are each struggling to have their art succeed. Noriko often works as her husband’s assistant, which he describes as “the average supporting the genius”. However when we do see Noriko’s work it is in complete opposition to the harsh and physical work of her husband; she draws beautiful cartoon-like depictions based on her life of endurance and struggles; calling her subjects Cutie and Bullie. The artwork is gorgeous, funny and memorising and the decision by director Zachary Heinzerling to then animate Noriko’s pictures to an evocative score adds another level to this powerful story.
The announcement of the Oscar nominations this week revealed the film is up for Best Documentary after being nominated for the Grand Jury Prize (Documentary) at last years’ Sundance Film Festival. A truly wonderful look at this unusual, undefinable but ultimately undeniable relationship; it’s hard to see Academy members not rewarding this brilliant piece of film-making.
[usr=4] CUTIE AND THE BOXER is released on DVD on 27th January. You can order it via Dogwoof here.
