Thailand News

cotambear · #1 22-08-2005, 20:54

Thai film's transvestite glove story
By Neil Smith
BBC News entertainment reporter

Beautiful Boxer, a film based on famed transvestite kickboxer Nong Toom, has been a huge success in its native Thailand and is now set to be released in the UK.

Beautiful Boxer tells the story of Thai kickboxing star Nong Toom
Beautiful Boxer tells a story so odd it has to be true.

Parinya Charoenphol (also Kiatbusaba) was born a poor nomad who spent much of his early life in a monastery.

Realising he had a flair for kickboxing, he became a master at Muay Thai, the most traditional and revered form of the ancient martial art.

Feared by his opponents for his swooping kicks and devastating elbow blows, he became one of Thailand's best-known boxers - and its most controversial.

For Charoenphol, or Nong Toom as he became known, was a transvestite who wore make-up in the ring and dreamed of saving enough money for a sex change operation.

"For me, Nong Toom is like a walking paradox," says Ekachai Uekrongtham, the Thai-born director of Beautiful Boxer.

"He set out to master something that is totally masculine in order to become totally feminine."

Nong Toom would eventually realise his dream, having gender reassignment surgery in 1999 at the age of 17.

Forbidden to return to the ring - Thai women are not allowed to kickbox professionally - she now lives as an actress and model in Bangkok.

'Prejudiced'

"My initial reaction towards her was quite negative," says the director.

"Thais hold kickboxing in very high regard, and I felt she had tarnished its image.

"It was not until I met her that I realised I had been very prejudiced against her, without giving her a chance."

Real-life kickboxer Asanee Suwan plays the lead role in the film
Nong Toom played a significant role in the scripting process, though there was never any chance she would play herself on screen.

Nor, says Uekrongtham, did she have a veto over how she would be depicted. "I told her from the start the film would not put her on a pedestal.

"This is fiction, a biopic. I wanted to capture the essence of who she is, in a way that would contribute to the themes I was interested in exploring."

One of the hardest aspects of production was finding an actor who could convincingly portray the contrasting sides of Nong Toom's persona.

Indeed, the director admits the problem almost proved unassailable.

"I decided very early on I wanted to cast a real kickboxer," he says.

I think he was man enough to be a woman

Director Ekachai Uekrongtham, about actor Asanee Suwan
"It's a skill you need to acquire over a lifetime, so I wanted it to be authentic.

"But kickboxers are not usually good actors - they are trained not to express their feelings in the ring."

Fortunately, Uekrongtham found his ideal candidate in Asanee Suwan, a real-life kickboxing champion who has fought in almost 200 matches in Thailand and Denmark.

Suwan spent a year preparing for the role - taking acting, movement and ballet classes and losing weight in order to look more "feminine".

The film has won awards at film festivals around the world
He was also required to adhere to a strict skin and body care regime - including numerous body scrub and hair removal sessions.

"Asanee had not acted before, but I felt he was brave enough to explore some emotional realms he may not have been comfortable with," the director says.

"I think he was man enough to be a woman, to be cool about it and take artistic risks."

For while Nong Toom's story is a compelling and unusual one, there were wider issues Uekrongtham wanted to address.

"I wanted to do something to do with the ever-changing concepts of what it means to be a man and what it means to be a woman.

"It was an amazing story to use as a springboard to talk about those subjects."

Beautiful Boxer is out in the UK on 2 September.

Denver · #2 22-08-2005, 21:06

[quote=cotambear]Thai film's transvestite glove story
By Neil Smith
BBC News entertainment reporter

"But kickboxers are not usually good actors - they are trained not to express their feelings in the ring."

..................and just think about the ******* you are going to get!

Denver · #3 23-08-2005, 21:25

Just had a trawl on the websites through Google and this film is certainly winning all the prizes here and there. Could be worth a look.

johndon · #4 24-08-2005, 08:15

Hi Denver,
I will be in Patong from August 27 to September 10. My partner is really keen to see some kickboxing while we are there-he represented Scotland in karate when he was younger( how about that for shattering myths about gay men). Anyway-what do u think-is it worth going to see when we are there in Patong?

Denver · #5 24-08-2005, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndon

Hi Denver,
I will be in Patong from August 27 to September 10. My partner is really keen to see some kickboxing while we are there-he represented Scotland in karate when he was younger( how about that for shattering myths about gay men). Anyway-what do u think-is it worth going to see when we are there in Patong?

Hi Johndon, great to hear from you.

I'll be perfectly honest with you here and say that I don't know too much about it. Yes, there is a place in Patong where there are bouts almost, if not, every night and guys on the street trying to get you in to watch. I did go one night and got a good (more expensive) seat near the front. The guys are going for it yes, but after watching some regional (for the National title) bouts in BKK, I thought they were going through the motions a little. I am guessing they have a pool of fighters who put on a 'bit of a show' for us, the tourists.

Like the BG's, these guys are trying to earn a crust from putting themselves through extreme physical training to fight and sometimes get the living sh1t kicked out of them to earn some dosh to pay the rent/bills/live etc. It's a hard life for these guys.

They fight in weight divisions and to aspire to be the Thai champion and all the kudos that brings is what they eventually strive for. They are held in as much esteem in thier sport as your David Beckhams, Michael Schumachers, Tiger Woods etc by the local kids. Posters, magazine articles, autographs etc.

The fight I went to in BKK, I was taken to by a taxi driver who I had asked to take me to a 'real' tournament. My god Johndon, I bought us both tickets and we again had good seats. It was something else. Those lads are atheletes and work bloody hard. Blood, snot, sweat and tears and that was my T-Shirt at the end of the night!!! I was entertained by some very good kick-boxing and recommend to anyone into boxing/martial arts to try and take in a bout or two.

Yes, I would say the Patong fighting is a bit for the tourists, not as much 'on the line' if they lose. If you get two guys who you can tell are up for it then look out! You are in for some serious stuff and a kick-boxing spectacle. Take your mate along, enjoy the evening. You are putting some money back into these guys pockets, who will be up and finished thier training when we are contemplating what to have for breakfast the next day.

Enjoy Johndon. Hope this helps and I am sure there are others on the Forum who will be able to give you some more advice.

Dodger · #6 24-08-2005, 15:13

There is real thai boxing in Patong just ask a local, I went by tuk tuk and it was in a back street place really brilliant, don't know if it has been moved to the place at the end of Bangla or if that one is a bit for tourists, the one round the back of Tiger is mainly tourist staged fights. Just passed Lamai Inn on Ratty road I took shortcut throught to beach and there was a thai boxing school which your mate could train or have a go at it. Ask Sefton, he will put names to these places for you.

LivinLOS · #7 24-08-2005, 17:18

The Sai Nam Yen ring has real fights twice a week.. Owned by Tam of Tam's / Tums Bar on Soi Seadragon..

The Banlga ring is demo only and the new place (old shark club) sounds like through the motions fights from what I have been told..

Phuket town also has a ring with fights 2 night per week..

johndon · #8 25-08-2005, 08:15

Hey Guys-thanks for the information. I will try out a few of your suggestions.I may even drop in and have a drink with you guys-as long as those women dont get any funny ideas bout molesting me or my other half-do you think we would be safe???lol

JayBee · #9 25-08-2005, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by johndon

.I may even drop in and have a drink with you guys-as long as those women dont get any funny ideas bout molesting me or my other half-do you think we would be safe???lol

No. IMHO, nobody is safe from the BGs!!

floppy · #10 25-08-2005, 18:12

On the same subject I noticed a place in 1 of the roads not sure where it was ..near the horizon beach hotel I think , for 500 baht they will teach you how to kick box for a hour ..sounds great get the shit kicked out of you and pay for the privelige ...what a great way to spend the afternoon..soften you up for the night ahead I suppose

LivinLOS · #11 25-08-2005, 18:21

Theres a few good camps around on phuket (one in the old shark club now I believe for daily training) I know one of my mates did some fairly intensive training in one for a while..

IRISH JONNY · #12 25-08-2005, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denver

Just had a trawl on the websites through Google and this film is certainly winning all the prizes here and there. Could be worth a look.

IS IT OPENING IN ALL COUNTIRES ? OR IS IT THE SELECT FEW?
IJ

Denver · #13 25-08-2005, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRISH JONNY

IS IT OPENING IN ALL COUNTIRES ? OR IS IT THE SELECT FEW?
IJ

Hi IJ, just necking a bacon buttie here mate.....Bloody lovely. Just checked again and it's released in the UK on Friday, 2nd September. Don't know when it will get to your neck of the woods mate. Hope that's of use.

IRISH JONNY · #14 25-08-2005, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denver

Hi IJ, just necking a bacon buttie here mate.....Bloody lovely. Just checked again and it's released in the UK on Friday, 2nd September. Don't know when it will get to your neck of the woods mate. Hope that's of use.

CHEERS D..IT USUALLY TAKES A MONTH ..
I CAN WAIT.....HOPE YOUR BB WAS NICE...............
CHEERS
IJ