“Cutie and the Boxer” Opens BRIC Screening Facility
By Adam Schartoff
Filmwax Radio is happy to co-present a free screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary “Cutie and the Boxer” along with BRIC Arts Media House on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. The film, which will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Zachary Heinzerling and the film’s two subjects, Ushio and Noriko Shinohara, is the first to be screened at BRIC’s facility.
The film, considered part of BRIC’s free performance Stoop Series, has had quite the arc. It came out of the gate with a bang in early 2012 when it won the Best Director prize at Sundance Film Festival. It also garnished various awards at other festivals, including the Audience Award at the Tribeca Film Festival last Spring. The documentary focuses on mature Japanese-American artists in a complex marriage. While the film may not have been as easy a sell as animal rights film “Blackfish,” or one about back-up singers “20 Feet From Stardom,” the film continues to find its audience.
I first heard about “Cutie and the Boxer” last winter. I couldn’t attend Sundance so I sent a stringer, Kristin McCracken. She interviewed Heinzerling for my podcast and was able to provide me with a hyperlink to see the film. I quickly realized that I needed to see this on the big screen. I waited until I was at True/False Film Fest in late February before watching.
When my friends at BRIC asked me to help curate the inaugural screening event for its Stoop Series, I immediately thought that “Cutie and the Boxer” was the ideal film. Not only has been nominated for an Oscar and would be a rare experience to see the film for free, but it’s a film about artists and what better place for fine art and media to converge than the BRIC House?
If you’re interested in the free fun, head over to BRIC Arts Media House, located at 647 Fulton Street, at Rockwell Place.
Adam Schartoff is a local resident who hosts the popular indie film podcast, Filmwax Radio, the result of a partnership with Rooftop Films. The podcast includes conversations with various people from the indie film landscape, including filmmakers, producers, actors, programmers, journalists and other industry types. You can find the podcast on iTunes.