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Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls, Movie

Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls 2009

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Kiwi entertainment's most irrepressible double act comes to the big screen in Leanne Pooley's documentary - offering a revealing look into the lives of the world's only yodelling lesbian twin country-and-western singers. More

Doco uses the Twins' archive of home movies and performance footage, talks in depth to the girls themselves and also their alter egos: Ken and Ken, Camp Mother and Camp Leader, and Prue and Dilly. But this a bigger story, not just charting the career of the two sisters but also the 25 years of seismic social change that accompanied it, as the country struggled to find its national identity.

Read our interview with director Leanne Pooley here. Hide

Starring: Jools Topp, Lynda Topp

Directed by Leanne Pooley ('Relative Guilt', 'Try Revolution', 'Being Billy Apple')

Produced by Arani Cuthbert

Cinematographed by Leon Narbey , Wayne Vinten

Festivals & Awards Audience Award winner (Documentary) at Toronto Film Festival 2009. Best Feature Film (with a budget under $1 million) at the NZ Film & TV Awards 2009.

Comedy, Documentary, Music | 1hr 24mins | M | contains offensive language and sexual references | Country of Origin: New Zealand | Official Site

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14 votes / 1 comments The Talk

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      So maybe it is genetic.

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Flicks.co.nz Review

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Andreas Heinemann Flicks Writer

You often hear how one of the most important things about local films is getting our stories up on screen. If that is truly one of the main factors in determining the cultural worth of New Zealand’s cinematic output, then this documentary is amongst the elite. More

What at first appears to be a celebrity biopic soon branches out to be a travelogue of the defining moments in this country’s recent history. It never descends into a dry classroom lesson – a testament to the charismatic presence of the Twins themselves. They have a rare talent for accentuating the comic elements of any given situation, no matter how serious they may first appear.

Likeable mockumentary segments, in which the Twins discuss themselves via various characters, are structured around a recent concert performance that is a brief history of their own lives and a tribute to those who have impacted upon it. The country and western nature of the songs might leave some cold but the way they hold the audience in the palms of their hands is a joy to behold. Like the film itself, it’s a great mix of laughter and heartfelt emotion. Hide

The People's Reviews

Rating:

14 ratings and 16 reviews

All reviews (16)

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See This magical movie.

murray swann Nobody (?)

Icons...Stars.....Legends.....The Topp Twins are the best...most terrific....most fabulous...most joyous....most talented...most special....most fantastic....and simply the BEST entertainers for the entire population we have ever had in New Zealand. There have never been or ever will be again two gals who have rocked,moved and made us laugh the way these two have. A pure joy to watch whatever they do....LOVE THEM.....forever!....SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!NOW!!!!!!

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Delivers

Mary Macharper Nobody (?)

Fantastic movie...not long enough for me..hilarity through the cinema...an inspiration to all kiwis dedicated to being who they truly are

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i loved it

s Nobody (?)

an absolutely wonderful encapsulation of al that is so enviable about nz culture

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masterpeice

catherine Nobody (?)

Get your gear on and go to this movie. There is a peice of every Kiwi going on here. It ticked all the boxes but hued with national pride. These girls stand for something, in the most natural way. You will laugh out loud. This was a pearler.

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took my time writing this

Ken Burns Nobody (?)

just like the Topp Twins getting around New Zealand in a caravan. This is very clear storytelling that makes me want to see it again for bits I missed. The film had laugh out loud moments that touch/change you like nothing else. Lynda and Jools are who they are and nothing can be taken from them for that. Don't miss this essential part of our country

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Not quite the right balance

Elston Nobody (?)

While the film was enjoyable there wasn't enough footage of their stage acts and there was too much said about them being lesbians, which was very boring, particularly Helen Clark's segment. I don't care whether they are lesbians or not and I don't want the fact that they are lesbians rammed down my throat. It would have been a much better movie by emphasizing their talent rather than their boring sexuality.

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Review

Lorraine Trivett Nobody (?)

Have just been with the staff to watch your movie. I laughed, and cried, and when it finished wanted to stay and watch it all over again. Thank you for a couple of hours of total enjoyment. Good Luck, Good Health, and God bless you both.
Lorraine
Papamoa Beach Top 10 Holiday Resort

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Iconic - a 'Must See'

John Hammond Nobody (?)

Absolutely watchable and so much better than you might expect from the trailer. Skillfully structured and edited and without a dull moment. Insightful and iconic - AND the harmonious duo are worth it alone! As one of the persons interviewed in the film stated "like one voice in stereo".
If you really want to see a proper "good feel" movie see it! - and at your local cinema

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Wonderful

John2 Nobody (?)

You laff, you cry, you're entertained, and educated, and if you're almost teh same age as the Topps like me, you go "they made a movie about my lifetime"!

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Mucho admirationo

Kara Nobody (?)

Historical, relevant, life-affirming, gorgeousness, all with humour - loved it.

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A Gorgeous Movie!

Topaz Nobody (?)

What's right? It's interesting, informative, funny, entertaining, charming, it's set in New Zealand, and we get to listen to the Topp Twins' songs
!
What's wrong? Not a thing!

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SEE THIS MOVIE, NOW!!!!

NZ ROCKS Nobody (?)

THIS MOVIE ROCKS ALOT!!! IT ISNT NABOUT THE TOP TWINS MORE A BIG CHUNK OF NEW ZEALAND HISTORY WATCH IT!!

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Quality with Grace

Harlee Anderson Nobody (?)

Charming loving story about their lives.
Musically moving,Daring,Fun,and Honest.
The Topp Twins are cool chickys!!
10/10

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Is this only for Kiwis?

Deb Nobody (?)

I'm looking for objective movie reviews, and found these that rave about NZ national pride without giving any information on what the movie's about, so I'm wondering if it will be as good for an Australian audience? Guess I'll have to look elsewhere for an objective review and to decide if I want to see the movie.

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Not a Kiwi but I loved it

Jenny Nobody (?)

I moved to New Zealand in 2007, and saw the Topp Twins at a festival about a month later. I'd never heard of them before then, and thought they sounded like something I'd hate, but we saw them by accident and I loved them!


My husband and I went to see the film on the strength of their live performance, and we weren't disappointed. It was nothing like their live show, but more of a history of their lives. We learned a lot about them and about New Zealand's recent history, and were thoroughly entertained along the way. We laughed, we felt sad, and we were unfailing impressed. Despite not "getting" any of the references to characters that the twins have played in the past, because I never saw those characters before, I recommend this film to anybody, not just to people from New Zealand.

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Press Reviews

Christchurch Press (Margaret Agnew)

Very funny, very moving… guaranteed to leave the theatre with a spring in your step and a song in your heart. .

NZ Herald (Russell Baillie)

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you might just yodel. Full review.

Otago Daily Times (Christine Powley)

They were radicals singing about changing the world and the only person each twin was interested in entertaining was the other. Times change and that is the other fascinating thing about this film - just how much we as a nation have changed in their wake, allowing the old-time radicals to become cuddly Kiwi icons. Full review.

The Listener (David Larsen)

Funny, moving, richly intelligent study of the Topps’ life and times... Full review.

TV3 (Kate Rodger)

This lovely little doco will warm the cockles of any heart, and made me feel proud to call myself a Kiwi. Full review.