Tuesday Noon at Sundance: Cutie and the Boxer

Director: Zachary Heinzerling.  U.S.A., 2012, 81 min., Color. English/Japanese with English subtitles.  U.S. Documentary Competition.

Description:  “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 of assistant to her overbearing husband, Noriko seeks an identity of her own.”

Film opened with Noriko assisting Ushio in putting on boxing gloves which he then plunged into buckets of black paint and proceeded to punch a huge, wall sized white artist’s canvas to create a dramatic and fantastic painting.  Thus his reputation as a famed boxing painter.

Ushio married Noriko when she was 19 and he was 40 years old, which explained the basis of their relationship.  He was the star.  Gallery and museum directors came to their apartment to see Ushio and his art.  After a few years Noriko began her own work, a cartoon story of their life which she called “Cutie and the Bullie.”  She began asking the directors to look at her art too, resulting in their having a joint gallery showing.

In the Q&A both Ushio and Noriko were present and fielded questions.  Noriko could speak a poor English but Ushio spoke Japanese and required an interpreter.  The dynamics between them in the Q&A was charming.  He admitted that the film was a surprise to him because he had thought it was all about him.  She replied, “that makes me happy”.  She was asked if her “visual novel” was being published.  She replied that it isn’t done yet but when it  is it will be.

At the beginning of Noriko’s work Ushio’s paintings and sculptures were huge and her work was on sketch pad paper.  Toward the end of the film Noriko was on a ladder painting her cartoon figures on the wall and Ushio was painting on sketch pad paper, which clearly exemplified the changing dynamic in their marriage.

My granddaughter Grace took my picture with Ushio after the Q&A.  Couldn’t get near Noriko who was surrounded by audience members  This was an audience vote film and I voted excellent.

For the film’s Sundance Film Guide listing, click here.