The documentary Cutie and the Boxer has been picked up by RADiUS for a 2013 theatrical release. First-time director Zachary Heinzerling delivers what was one of the best-reviewed films at the Sundance Film Festival, telling the story of Japanese artists Ushio and Noriko Shinohara.
“The beauty and complexity of the Shinoharas’ love affair and their art is nothing short of stunning,” said RADiUS’ co-president Tom Quinn, announcing the acquisition. “Exquisitely crafted, Zachary has made a mesmerizing and unforgettable portrait of artistic genius. We couldn’t be more proud to bring this surefire crowd-pleaser to audiences everywhere.”
Lydia Dean Pilcher, Patrick Burns, and Sierra Pettengill produced the documentary, with Kiki Miyake executive producing.
The Details:
As a rowdy young Neo-Dadaist artist in Tokyo, Ushio yearned for international recognition, so in 1969 he set sail for New York City. Nineteen-year-old Noriko came to New York to study art, where she met and fell in love with Ushio, 21 years her senior. Putting her own artistic ambitions on hold, Noriko dedicated herself to supporting her husband’s career.
Over the course of their marriage, the roles of assistant and artist have slowly begun to transform. Now 80, Ushio, widely known for his boxing painting, is obsessed with establishing his artistic legacy, while Noriko is at last finding her voice as an artist with a series of drawings entitled “Cutie and Bullie,” depicting her own chaotic relationship with Ushio.
