RADiUS-TWC, the multi-platform label from the Weinstein Company, has acquired North American and French rights to Sundance documentary, "Cutie and the Boxer", TheWrap said.
Directed by first-time feature filmmaker Zachary Heinzerling, the film focuses on the 40-year love story of Ushio and Noriko Shinohara, two Japanese artists who met and married in New York in the early 1970s. Heinzerling won the U.S. Documentary Directing Award at Sundance's awards ceremony.
The film was produced by Lydia Dean Pilcher, Patrick Burns and Sierra Pettengill. Kiki Miyake is the executive producer. David Teague is the editor and Yasuaki Shimizu is the composer.
Given a 2013 release date, it makes the fifth major purchase for the boutique label at Sundance. It also has acquired "20 Feet From Stardom," "Concussion," "Lovelace" and "Inequality for All."
Ushio sailed to New York from Tokyo in 1969, looking for international recognition; there he met art student Noriko, 21 years younger. Now 80, Ushio is best known for his boxing paintings, and Noriko has become an artist in her own right, with a series of drawings entitled “Cutie and Bullie,” depicting her chaotic relationship with Ushio.
