82 mins.
Documentary, Biography
August 16, 2013

Rated R for nude art images. (MPAA)

The documentary “Cutie and the Boxer” focuses on a family of artists. The main focus is on the relationship between Noriko and Ushio Shinohara, a married couple, each of whom is an artist. The filmmakers chose to highlight Noriko’s perspective on their relationship over Ushio’s. One great element of this film is the use of an animated version of Noriko’s collection of drawings/watercolors/paintings called “Ushio-Raising Hell.” The main characters of that collection are Cutie (i.e. Noriko) and Bullie (i.e. Ushio, “The Boxer”).

Ushio is referenced as the Boxer in this film’s title because of his style of painting; he boxes the canvas with boxing gloves dipped in paint. He also creates sculptures of motorcycles and animals. His art mimics the energy of New York City, where this family now lives.

The couple’s son, Alex, is also present here. He seems to be following in his father’s footsteps in certain ways, especially in regards to alcoholism. In a brief moment, he shows his favorite pieces of his own artwork.

These artists produce great work. And this film beautifully captures not only their artwork but also their relationships with each other. The filmmakers use normal, documentary-style footage of the family’s interactions (Noriko and Ushio, in particular) and of their business transactions and interactions within the art world. They also use slow-motion footage, the previously mentioned animations, vintage news footage of Ushio, and home videos. The editing of those disparate parts is masterful.

While the presentation isn’t exactly linear, it is emotionally effective. The glimpses into these artists’ lives serve as a great way to depict the resentments, appreciation, and love that flows through this family. Noriko thinks that she has been held back by Ushio’s acclaim. The couple struggles to generate income, and Ushio was in the throes of alcoholism and irresponsibility in the past; the irresponsibility is still a problem. Noriko has been there and continues to be there to pick up the pieces.

During filming, Noriko works on and promotes her latest (and most personal) work, the aforementioned “Ushio-Raising Hell.” She uses this work to document her feelings in regards to her relationship with Ushio and to wrest control of it. This is quietly powerful stuff. Ushio believes that Noriko should support him, because, in his opinion, he’s a genius and more talented than her. But by the film’s end, Ushio’s work is featured alongside Noriko’s; Ushio’s work is the collection’s main focus, though. We are shown how this affects the couple: Noriko seems to feel freer to assert herself, while Ushio admits that he needs her in his life. Nothing here is over-the-top or dwelled-upon, but it’s clear that Noriko’s and Ushio’s relationship has deep currents. This is the best way to present a documentary subject: Let the subjects be who they are and trust that you don’t need to present every possible piece of footage. These filmmakers know exactly what to show and what not to show.

While Noriko and Ushio have a complicated relationship (no surprise since they have been together for 40 years or so), the lasting thought I have is that they truly love each other. They can be brutally honest with each other, though: Ushio unapologetically agreeing that Noriko is essentially his unpaid staff, and Noriko saying that one piece of Ushio’s work is “beautiful” yet saying, “I don’t think it’s good,” about another piece.

One other theme in “Cutie and the Boxer” is the harshness of an artist’s career timeline. Ushio believes that an artist’s best work is always his or her first work. He believes that “Jaws” is Spielberg’s best film, for example. So Noriko asks him what that means for him. They aren’t harsh with one another, just direct in an easy way.

“Cutie and the Boxer” is a great portrait of two people who have strong desires for themselves yet find a way to stick together and love each other. This is a film for people who like to explore art and its intersection with relationships. I liked every moment very much.

Verdict: Very Good

About: (Source: cutieandtheboxer)

A reflection on love, sacrifice, and the creative spirit, this candid New York story explores the chaotic 40-year marriage of renowned “boxing” painter Ushio Shinohara and his artist wife, Noriko. As a rowdy, confrontational young artist in Tokyo, Ushio seemed destined for fame, but met with little commercial success after he moved to New York City in 1969, seeking international recognition. When 19-year-old Noriko moved to New York to study art, she fell in love with Ushioabandoning her education to become the wife and assistant to an unruly, husband. Over the course of their marriage, the roles have shifted. Now 80, Ushio struggles to establish his artistic legacy, while Noriko is at last being recognized for her own art—a series of drawings entitled “Cutie,” depicting her challenging past with Ushio. Spanning four decades, the film is a moving portrait of a couple wrestling with the eternal themes of sacrifice, disappointment and aging, against a background of lives dedicated to art.