FROM THE BACK OF THE BOX:
In New York City in 1969, 19-year-old art student Noriko fell in love with 41-year-old avant-garde artist Ushio Shinohara and put her career on hold to marry and support this rising star of the Manhattan art world. But 40 years later and still struggling, Ushio remains consumed with reinforcing his legacy via his ‘boxing’ paintings while Noriko is now finding her own creative voice through a series of drawings entitled “Cutie And Bullie” that depict their chaotic relationship and transforming roles of assistant and artist. Cutie And The Boxer is a powerful and poignant documentary about creativity, sacrifice, and a love that is its own unique work of art.
FROM THE BACK OF MY BRAIN:
“Cutie and the Boxer” is a look at the trouble that arises when artists marry. Basically, someone is always going to get left in the other’s shadow. Ushio is the Boxer and we see his masculine paint punching put on full display. Then, there’s Noriko who retells how she became the Cutie and how her marriage and child has redefined her artistic dreams. That being said, she’s a maternal figure first and foremost. She worries for her son and her husband, as she sees unhealthy patterns begin to emerge. What makes it even sadder is the use of old documentary footage to piece together a timeline of the troubles.
Documentaries took a giant leap forward in 2013. Everything from the grandiose “The Act of Killing” to Sarah Polley examining her life in “Stories We Tell” to the condemnation of SeaWorld in “Blackfish”. Very few people paid attention to how “Cutie and the Boxer” became the first documentary or feature film to receive an R rating based on nude art images. Out of everything presented, why was the art so threatening that it landed the same rating as a “Saw” movie. Well, because it’s a mirror to two truly fractured souls that can only show truth through their art. This documentary is nothing more than a brief moment in time showing who these artists were, where they are heading and what lead to this point.
The Blu-Ray comes with featurettes, documentaries, Q&A and deleted scenes. The DTS-HD 5.1 master audio track is strong as hell. However, the 1080p transfer shines throughout the stock changes and archival material. It’s so bright and beautiful that it makes the world of art come to life. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!