The critically-acclaimed documentary darling of the LGBT film festival circuit The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls gets its theatrical release at New York City’s Cinema Village on Friday, May 13.
The film tells the story of the world’s only comedic, singing, yodeling lesbian twin sisters, Lynda and Jools Topp, whose political activism and unique brand of entertainment has helped change New Zealand’s social landscape. Directed by Leanne Pooley, Untouchable Girls has garnered several awards including Best Feature Documentary at New York's NewFest 2010, Freedom Award at 2010 Outfest, and the Cadillac People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival 2009.
Pooley’s film follows the girls from their happy childhood on a Waikato dairy farm - where they grew up singing to the cows - to the Territorial Army where they quickly became the Vera Lynns of their battalion. 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 1998 only a decade later, Lynda Topp, as Camp Mother, came close to winning the mayoral elections in Auckland, and the Topp Twins were firmly entrenched in the bosom of Kiwi culture with their own prime time TV Series 'Do Not Adjust Your Twinset'.
The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls is 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 concert film, part biopic, part historical record, part comedy, the Twins share their journey from “coming out‟ to Jools' recent brush with Breast Cancer with much laughter, honesty and wisdom. It is a film about two truly unique New Zealanders, which ends up saying as much about us as it does about them.
She Wired contributor Rebekah Allen reviewed Untouchable Girls when it screened at Outfest last year. Here’s what she had to say:
Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls follows New Zealand twins Jools and Lynda Topp, who are one of the most successful comedy/folk duos in New Zealand. The sisters are known for not only their extremely catchy music but also their hilarious character acts and political activism. Both sisters are also out, loud, and proud lesbians who are not afraid to fight for equality. They are an inspiration, two completely dedicated sisters and friends who have shared an amazing life together and are still going strong.
Untouchable Girls manages to cover in depth the Topp Twins' entire story from beginning to end, including video footage of nearly every milestone of their career, as well as several moments from their private lives. They started out as young farmers with a penchant for songwriting and became superstars in their country as well as two of the first positive lesbian role models of their time. The Topp Twins are a rare case of women who have spent their whole lives performing, continually growing in success and have somehow remained completely unaffected by fame. They come off as two friendly people you'd want to have dinner with -- maybe a jam session if you're lucky.
The Topp Twins certainly have a story worth telling, and it is a pleasure getting to watch them do so.
