The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls

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Parent Category: Film Festivals

Category: Reviews

Published on Sunday, 18 July 2010 09:18

Written by Carmella McDonald

The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls
June 10th @ 7.30pm
SVA Theatre, Chelsea, New York
Newfest June 3 - 13, 2010
(Encore screening Sunday, June 13 - 7.30pm)

On June 10th, as part of NewFest 2010, The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls premiered at the SVA Theater in Chelsea, followed by a performance and Q&A. It proved to be a remarkable documentary not just for the style in which it was made, but for the subjects it documented -- New Zealand's Topp Twins, Jools and Lynda, a very talented and remarkable set of sisters. This duo can be described as comedians, entertainers, singers, songwriters, army veterans, political activists and yodelers. Yet they always maintain the earthiness of farm girls raised in a small country town. And both happen to be lesbians.

This inspiring film not only illustrates their lives as performers, but also as activists who protested apartheid when the segregated South African rugby team visited their country in 1981; demonstrated against visits by nuclear powered navy ships, and fought for the land rights due the Maori, New Zealand's indigenous people. They also fought for the 1986 Homosexual Law Reform Bill. After the screening with the twins in attendance, they explained further about the things captured in the documentary. Said Lynda to the audience after the screening, “It was best to chant and sing during these demonstrations rather than talk; it gave unity to the group."

And added Jools, "We were in the fighting spirit in our country at a time of major changes. Just stand up and when you simply stand there people will go with you."

This documentary traces their lives since the 1980s, from their days as teenage buskers -- street musicians who perform for change -- to success as local television stars and touring musicians playing to sold out houses from Australia to Scotland.

But the most somber scenes from the film deal with Jools' breast cancer struggle, her treatment, and recovery. The film poignantly shows Lynda hugging Jools while she undergoes chemotherapy session. Yes this is also a love story.

As twins, the film shows that they have a love and unique dynamic that, despite both enjoying long-term relationships with loving partners, demonstrate that they are spiritually inseparable.

“God forbid if anything or anyone comes between us," explained Lynda. "We never question our link with each other, we always make something fun, because it’s not a career, it’s a lifestyle."

In the film, Jools and Lynda recalled traveling from one small New Zealand town to another in a caravan drawn by a tractor. Said Jools, “It was so slow and tedious that we would travel 40 kilometers and decided we had enough, but some of those farming towns had not seen a live show since the early 1950s so we carried on and it was a great experience."  

Their outrageous characters have become beloved in New Zealand and beyond. From performing as "The Two Kens" to often bewildered (yet amused) audiences of steelworkers and farmers, or playing their female alter egos as Camp Mother and Camp Leader, the Bowling Ladies or posh socialite sisters -- Prue and Dilly -- they are always spot-on hilarious.

Later, Jools states to the audience during the Q&A, “We don't like to make distinctions in social and gender roles, rather evolve these characters evolve to capture people's imaginations.”

Released in April 2009, the film has taken in nearly two million NZ dollars at local box offices, making it the top documentary film ever released in that country. It had its premiere at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival, where it [yes/no?] won the Cadillac People’s Choice Award for Best Documentary - beating out a Michael Moore film. To "Topp" it all off, the documentary won the Best Doc Award at NewFest 2010 as well.

Following the screening, The Topps performed on stage their songs "Untouchable Girls" and "Graffiti Raiders," and did a short yodeling demonstration. They had started yodeling since they were five, practicing on their horses when riding home -- influenced by Australian Pasty Montana and American Shirley Thoms. Reminiscing on their adolescence, the Twins captivated the audience with comical stories of busking on the streets to singing in university café’s showing their love of being live performers.  

This feature deserved the accolades it has gotten not only because it is such an outstanding film, but because The Topp Twins are true stars. Their humor, warmth and honesty not only cause laughs but also makes us experience their love of humanity and sense of commonality with people of all nationalities, ethnicities, genders and orientations.

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