tuc32475 Review of Beautiful Boxer

Beautiful Boxer (2003)

Beautiful Boxer and her journey to become a woman

[7/10 · 5 February 2012]

The Beautiful Boxer is a Thai drama based on the real life of Nong Thoom, a transgender Muay Thai boxer. It follows his struggles as a transgender and his problems he faces with family, as a Muay Thai boxer, and the Media's sensational focus on his identity. This film is full of insightful human drama and with sometimes comedic element that really captures the innocence of Nong Thoom to follows his destiny and finds his place in society. The gender of Nong Thoom is clearly portrayed throughout his life and his passion for the beauty of Muay Thai boxing. The two seem to not go together and creates his struggles with the industry and the prejudice that attacks with his character. As he becomes more comfortable in his own skin, he realizes through the media's attention that he is not truly accepted by society. The film succeeds in portraying the balance Nong Thoom's mentality as a woman and his physical need to be a woman. Stereotypes towards transgenders and transsexuals in Thai are also shown. Although their identities are quite known in mainstream culture, they are not "accepted" or respected as other "standard genders". The film also focuses on the childhood of Nong Thoom, and sends a particularly strong element to understand the motif and psychology behind his "decision" to be a woman, merely to show that it is what he is destined to be.