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.
Contents
Cast
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
On 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."
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.
Awards and nominations
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