The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls
Spring 2011 Documentary series
Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 8:00pm
Acadia Cinema's Al Whittle Theatre
450 Main Street, Wolfville, NS
Directed by Leanne Pooley
Starring Jools and Linda Topp
Rated PG ·
1h 24m
New Zealand
English
The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls
Directed by award-winning ex-BBC documentary filmmaker, Leanne Pooley, with cinematography shared by Whale Rider’s Leon Narbey and acclaimed New Zealand DP Wayne Vinten, this documentary shares the extraordinary personal story of the irrepressible Kiwi entertainment double act, Jools and Lynda Topp. The film offers a delightful and revealing look into the lives of the World’s only comedic, country singing, dancing and yodeling lesbian twin sisters. As well as rarely seen archive footage and home movies, the film features a series of special interviews with some of the Topp’s infamous comedy alter-egos.
Celebrating their half century this year, the Topp Twins have attained a unique status within New Zealand culture, and their fans range from hard core political activists, to sheep farmers and ‘Ladies who Lunch’. Their ability to relate to all kinds of people, and their natural gift for humour, have helped them cross from the fringes to the mainstream.
From rural backwaters they came of age performing on the streets of Auckland during the heady days of the political protest marches in the early 80s, and quickly joined the forefront of progressive social change campaigning for a Nuclear-Free NZ, Maori Land Rights, a halt to the1981 Springbok Tour and Homosexual Law reform. By now, the twins have morphed from radical activists into Kiwi ‘national treasures’, ‘cultural ambassadors’ and finally, according to the Glasgow Herald, into New Zealand’s ‘finest artistic export since lamb cutlets!’
The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls is a big story. It’s not just the story of two sisters but also of 50 years of New Zealand history: Half a century of cultural changes and the foundation of a national identity. Part concept film, part biopic, part historical record, part comedy, the Twins share their journey with much laughter, honesty and wisdom. It is a film about two truly unique New Zealanders, which ends up saying as much about New Zealand as it does about them.