Beautiful Boxer
Encyclopedia
Beautiful Boxer is a Thai biographical sports film by Singapore
-based director Ekachai Uekrongtham
. It tells the life story of Nong Thoom
, a famous kathoey
(trans woman), Muay Thai
fighter, actress and model. She was portrayed by male kickboxer Asanee Suwan.
the film received a 80% "Certified Fresh" approval rating from critics.
There was controversy in Thailand about the full-frontal male nudity in this film. For Thailand, the nudity was cut.
Nominated
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
-based director Ekachai Uekrongtham
Ekachai Uekrongtham
Ekachai Uekrongtham is a Thai theatre and film director. Based in Singapore, Ekachai is the founding artistic director of ACTION Theatre, a Singapore professional theatre company....
. It tells the life story of Nong Thoom
Nong Thoom
Parinya Kiatbusaba or Parinya Jaroenphon , more popularly known as Nong Thoom, Nong Toom or Nong Tum , is arguably the best-known kathoey in Thailand. She is a former Muay Thai champion and has also worked as a model and actress.- Early Life :As a child, she was already aware of her female...
, a famous kathoey
Kathoey
Kathoey or katoey is a male-to-female transgender person or an effeminate gay male in Thailand. Related phrases include sao praphet song , or phet thi sam . The word kathoey is thought to be of Khmer origin...
(trans woman), Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
fighter, actress and model. She was portrayed by male kickboxer Asanee Suwan.
Cast
- Asanee Suwan as Nong ThoomNong ThoomParinya Kiatbusaba or Parinya Jaroenphon , more popularly known as Nong Thoom, Nong Toom or Nong Tum , is arguably the best-known kathoey in Thailand. She is a former Muay Thai champion and has also worked as a model and actress.- Early Life :As a child, she was already aware of her female...
- Sorapong ChatreeSorapong ChatreeSorapong Chatree is a Thai film actor. He has frequently starred in the films of Prince Chatrichalerm Yukol, as well as in Cherd Songsri's classic romance, Plae Kao....
as Pi Chart - Orn-Anong Panyawong as Nong Thoom's mother
- Nukkid Boonthong as Nong Thoom's father
- Sitiporn Niyom as Nat
- Kyoko InoueKyoko Inoueis a Japanese female professional wrestler. She has held the WWWA World Heavyweight Championship three times, and is the first woman to win a men's title in Japan. She is also the founder of the joshi promotion NEO Japan...
as herself (female Japanese wrestler) - Sarawuth Tangchit as Nong Toom (as a boy)
- Keagan KangKeagan KangKeagan Kang is an Australian actor.Kang's first professional acting role was in Sweat, opposite Heath Ledger. A Singaporean theatre director invited him to star in the stage play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and his career in Singapore grew...
as Jack the reporter
Reception
The film has received very positive reviews, with Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
the film received a 80% "Certified Fresh" approval rating from critics.
There was controversy in Thailand about the full-frontal male nudity in this film. For Thailand, the nudity was cut.
Awards and nominations
Won- Torino International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival – Best Feature Film
- Thailand National Film Association AwardsThailand National Film Association AwardsThe Thailand National Film Association Awards is a Thai film industry ceremony held annually by the Federation of National Film Associations of Thailand...
– Best Actor (Asanee Suwan), Best Makeup (Kraisorn Sampethchareon) - San Sebastián International Film FestivalSan Sebastián International Film FestivalThe San Sebastián International Film Festival is an annual FIAPF A category film festival held in the Spanish city of San Sebastián .-History:The festival was founded in 1953...
– Sebastian Award - Milan International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival – Best Film
- OutfestOutfestOutfest is an LGBT-oriented film showcase and festival in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1982 as the "Gay and Lesbian Media Festival and Conference", the name was changed to Outfest in 1994.-Programs:...
– Achievement Award – Outstanding Emerging Talent (Ekachai UekrongthamEkachai UekrongthamEkachai Uekrongtham is a Thai theatre and film director. Based in Singapore, Ekachai is the founding artistic director of ACTION Theatre, a Singapore professional theatre company....
)
Nominated
- GLAAD Media AwardsGLAAD Media AwardsThe GLAAD Media Award is an accolade bestowed by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to recognize and honor various branches of the media for their outstanding representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives...
– Outstanding Film
External links
- Official U.S. Site
- Beautiful Boxer at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Beautiful Boxer at Rotten TomatoesRotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
- a chapter about her story in the book "Ladyboys: The Secret World of Thailand's Third Gender" by Susan Aldous and Pornchai Sereemongkonpol published in 2008 by Maverick House PublishersMaverick House PublishersMaverick House Publishers is an independent publisher of non-fiction books. It was founded in the Republic of Ireland. The headquarter is based in Dunboyne, Co. Meath, Ireland. A second branch is situated in Bangkok, Thailand...