The fraught, often paradoxical relationship between love and art is brought into focus in Cutie and the Boxer (T/F 2013), opening today at NYC’s Lincoln Center and L.A.’s Nuart Theater before hitting cinemas nationwide. This impressive documentary debut by director Zachary Heinzerling is a clear-headed and compassionate observation of the private life of artist couple Ushio Shinohara and Noriko Shinohara.

If you’re interested in learning more, check out Heinzerling’s chats with Karen Kemmerle at Tribeca and Hillary Weston at BlackBook where he explains his process and the interaction of the Shinoharas’ art and his own.

Cutie led to one of the best moments from this year’s Fest. Following the Sunday screening at the historic Missouri Theater, Ushio Shinohara gave a live demonstration of his “action art” to a cheering crowd in an adjacent parking lot.

You can check out Ushio’s website for examples of his finished pieces. To catch Cutie and the Boxer, visit a theater on the list below.