Beautiful Boxer (2003)

Director:

Ekachai Uekrongtham

Writers:

Desmond Sim (writer)
Ekachai Uekrongtham (writer)

Release Date:

29 April 2004 (Singapore)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

Based on the true story of a remarkable champion.

Plot:

Based on the real life story of Parinya Charoenphol, a Muaythai boxer who underwent a sex change operation to become a woman...

Plot Keywords:

Kickboxer | Repressed Homosexual | Betting | Brother Sister Relationship | Boxing Training

Awards:

6 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Asanee Suwan	...	Nong Toom / Parinaya Charoemphol
Sorapong Chatree	...	Pi Chart
Orn-Anong Panyawong	...	Nong Toom's mother
Nukkid Boonthong	...	Nong Toom's father
Sitiporn Niyom	...	Nat
Kyôko Inoue	...	Herself (Female Wrestler) (as Kyoko Inoue)
Keagan Kang	...	Jack (the Reporter)
Yuka Hyodo	...	Japanese fan
Somsak Tuangmkuda	...	Pi Moo
Tanyabuth Songsakul	...	Tam
Sarawuth Tangchit	...	Nong Toom
Natee Pongsopol	...	Nong Toom
Samnuan Sangpali	...	Anaconda
Natawuth Singlek	...	Ramba
Pat Sasipragym	...	Hercules

Runtime:

Brazil:118 min | USA:118 min

Country:

Thailand

Language:

Thai | English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Malaysia:18PL | Australia:M | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:12 | Philippines:R-13 | Singapore:PG | USA:Unrated | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Company:

GMM Pictures Co.

Trivia:

Cameo: [Parinya Charoenphol]the facial masseuse in the beauty parlor scene.

Movie Connections:

References K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)

Beautiful In Any Gender

Beautiful Boxer is the story of transgender kickboxer Noom Tong, born in a male body and feeling female in her soul, using the God given martial arts skills, to change her gender and become at one with herself. The Thai cast in this production is nearly perfect in presenting her story.

Among the many issues facing transgender individuals is the staggering cost of reassignment surgeries and that even in the face of overwhelming medical and psychological evidence to the contrary, insurance companies still regard a sex change as elective cosmetic surgery. The same classification as they would give a rhinoplasty, nose job to most of you.

As it turns out Thailand is one of a few countries where transgender people go for surgeries. It's expensive and therein lies the tale of Beautiful Boxer. Noom Tang uses the prize monies won in kickboxing to pay for her surgery. While transitioning, she faces a whole lot of evil, but she literally kicks her way out.

Watching this film I was struck with the similarity of this film and Flawless. In Flawless Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a drag entertainer who by chance finds a drug dealer's stash after a shooting and keeps it to pay for her reassignment surgery. It would probably have taken her twenty years of drag shows in order to pay for what she needed. A marketable skill, but not quite marketable enough as kickboxing.

I hope that those who watch the film think of the many who can't earn it, win it, steal it, or stumble on the funds needed. If Beautiful Boxer can make people think about that, it's a public service film.

Or you can just enjoy it and be downright inspired.