It is not a surprise that Beautiful Boxer can become the latest Thai cult movie. Its story, based on the true story of Nong Tum, a transvestite kickboxer who finally had sex operation, does not make it hard get an attention from world audience. Director Ekachai Uekrongtham is also good at showing what should be highlighted, casting the former Miss Thailand to play as the boxer’s mother and inviting a real female Japanese wrestler to take a cameo role as his/her challenger.
In terms of cinematic prosperity, Beautiful Boxer acquires both merits and falling parts. The director sometimes showed too many spectacular scenes of the protagonist Nong Tum, evidently seen in the first sequence when a Singaporean journalist tries to track down Nong Tum. It takes almost five minutes to reveal her face. Too many unnecessary spectacular shows. You can see Thai dance, western dance, Thai kickboxing arts and etc all in one movie! Of all those spectacular shows, the kickboxing sequences are worth to be seen. It is the first time in my life that I really intentionally watch the Thai kickboxing arts. The internal conflicts inside the protagonist being a boxer or a woman is something really touching. Of all the recent exploitation of transvestite movie after the world success of Iron Ladies, this movie is still the best.
Anchalee Chaiworaporn