Beautiful Boxer (Thai: บิวตี้ฟูล บ๊อกเซอร์) is a 2003 Thai biographical sports film produced, directed and co-written by Ekachai Uekrongtham. It tells the life story of Parinya Charoenphol (a.k.a. Nong Toom), a famous kathoey, Muay Thai fighter, actress and model. Charoenphol was portrayed by male kickboxer Asanee Suwan.[2][3]
| Beautiful Boxer | |
|---|---|
 Promotional release poster | |
| Directed by | Ekachai Uekrongtham |
| Written by | Desmond Sim Ekachai Uekrongtham |
| Produced by | Ekachai Uekrongtham |
| Starring | Asanee Suwan Sorapong Chatree |
| Cinematography | Choochart Nantitanyatada |
| Music by | Amornbhong Methakunavudh |
| Distributed by | GMM Pictures[1] Regent Releasing (US) TLA Releasing |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 118 minutes |
| Country | Thailand |
| Languages | Thai English Japanese |
Cast
edit- Asanee Suwan as Nong Toom / Parinya Charoenphol
- Sorapong Chatree as Pi Chart
- Orn-Anong Panyawong as Parinya Charoenphol's mother
- Nukkid Boonthong as Parinya Charoenphol's father
- Sitiporn Niyom as Nat
- Kyoko Inoue as herself (female Japanese wrestler)
- Sarawuth Tangchit as Parinya Charoenphol (as a child)
- Keagan Kang as Jack the reporter
Reception
editOn review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 81% based on 36 critics. The website's critical consensus reads: "Beautiful Boxer blends boxing and identity politics to create a striking, if overdrawn, portrait of self discovery."[4]
There was controversy in Thailand about the full frontal nudity in this film. For the Thai release, the nudity was cut.
The movie was highlighted in the book Movies and Mental Illness: Using Films to Understand Psychopathology as an example of films focusing on Gender Dysphoria.[5]
Awards and nominations
edit- Won
- Torino International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival – Best Feature Film
- Thailand National Film Association Awards – Best Actor (Asanee Suwan), Best Makeup (Kraisorn Sampethchareon)
- San Sebastián International Film Festival – Sebastian Award
- Milan International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival – Best Film
- Outfest – Achievement Award – Outstanding Emerging Talent (Ekachai Uekrongtham)
- Nominated
- GLAAD Media Awards – Outstanding Film[1]
See also
edit
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References
edit- ^ a b Wong, Silvia (29 January 2007). "Thai director turns on Chinese-language Pleasure Factory". Screen. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
- ^ Mary J. Ainslie, Katarzyna Ancuta (2018). Thai Cinema: The Complete Guide. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781838609252.
Beautiful Boxer[...]This 2003 biopic based on the life of famed transgender Muay Thai champion, Parinya Charoenphol or "Nong Toom" (played by Asanee Suwan)...
- ^ 变性拳王欲参加中泰拳赛夺一分 中方恐拒绝 (in Chinese)
- ^ "Beautiful Boxer (2005)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
- ^ Danny Wedding, Ryan M Niemiec (2014). Movies and Mental Illness: Using Films to Understand Psychopathology. Hogrefe Publishing GmbH. ISBN 9781613344613.
External links
edit- Beautiful Boxer
- Official U.S. Site
- Beautiful Boxer at IMDb
- "Ladyboys: The Secret World of Thailand's Third Gender" by Susan Aldous and Pornchai Sereemongkonpol published 2008 by Maverick House Publishers
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