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The Topp Twins - Untouchable Girls
Film (Trailer and Excerpts) – 2009
Part live performance, part biopic, and part historical record, Untouchable Girls celebrated the Topp Twins' 50th birthday. New Zealand's favourite comedic singing and yodeling lesbian twins tell their personal story: from coming out, to protest (see excerpt one), to Jools' brush with breast cancer. Director Leanne Pooley (Shackleton's Captain) melds archive material, home movies and interviews with the Topps' many alter egos. The result became the biggest Kiwi documentary of its era. Among roughly 20 international awards, it was voted Favourite Documentary at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival.
The Topp Twins are New Zealand icons, and they embody so much of what New Zealand has achieved in the last 30 years. Aside from their own success, they have walked alongside New Zealand as New Zealand grew up. They were there: Māori land rights. They were there, feminism. They were there, 1981 Springbok Tour. They were part of the anti-nuclear movement. So the Twins have been part of New Zealand's history. So, in making a film about the Twins, I've been given the chance to make a film about New Zealand.– Untouchable Girls director Leanne Pooley, in clip five
Key Cast & Crew
See all 53 credits
Acknowledgements
Made with funding from the NZ Film Commission, NZ On Air and Sweeney Vesty
Music
Original music written and performed by the Topp Twins, including closing song 'Paradise'
'Ngā Iwi E' composed by Hirini Melbourne, performed by The Topp Twins and Mereana Pitman
'My Pinto Pony and I' composed by Smiley Burnette
Opening song 'Untouchable Girls' composed by Lynda Topp
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