Beautiful Boxer (2004)

80% of critics liked it
(35 reviews)
88% of users liked it
(4,204 ratings)

Inspired by a true story, this drama from Thailand tells the story of Nong Toom (Asanee Suwan), who was born in a small community where his family struggled with poverty, and Nong Toom himself was the target of bullies who made fun of his delicate nature. From his early childhood, Nong Toom felt… More Inspired by a true story, this drama from Thailand tells the story of Nong Toom (Asanee Suwan), who was born in a small community where his family struggled with poverty, and Nong Toom himself was the target of bullies who made fun of his delicate nature. From his early childhood, Nong Toom felt more like a girl than a boy, and when he encounters a transsexual for the first time, he comes to the realization that he also is a woman trapped in a man's body. While Nong Toom is not by his nature aggressive, one day he is forced to fight a bully to defend one of his friends, and he discovers he has a natural talent for kickboxing. Nong Toom begins training with a skilled kickboxing coach, Pi Chart (Sorapong Chatri), but despite the best efforts of Nong Toom and his best friend Pi Bua (Natcha Bootsri), the secret of his unorthodox sexuality leaks out. To his surprise, Pi Chart accepts Nong Toom as he is, and boxing promoter Pi Mo (Somsak Tuangmukda) embraces his lifestyle as a marketable gimmick, as the fighter now battles his opponents while wearing makeup -- and wins more often than not; however, Nong Toom begins to alienate his new following when he declares that his embrace of women's clothing and makeup is not a joke and that he's saving his prize money to one day have a sex-change operation. While Beautiful Boxer was based on the life story of Thai kickboxing champ Nong Toom Prinya Charoenphol, the fighter himself did not actively participate in the making of the film. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Ekachai Uekrongtham
Written By: Ekachai Uekrongtham, Desmond Sim Kim Jin
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Feb 18, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Aug 9, 2005
Studio: Regent Releasing

Critic Reviews

Hank Sartin, Chicago Reader
The cinematography tends toward cramped framing and busy composition but opens up nicely for the exciting fight sequences.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
The film earns points for avoiding buffoonery, but it plods along with few surprises or emotional flash points.
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News
Manages to take a story that Jerry Springer would love and turn it into a sober and sensitive character study about identity and self-determination.
V.A. Musetto, New York Post
You can't help but root for Asanee's troubled character, in and out of the ring.
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
Though a bit long and occasionally awkward, this drama ultimately does justice to its inspiration.
Dana Stevens, New York Times
A rare hybrid: an underdog sports picture that's also a transgender fairy tale.
Anton Bitel, Eye for Film
a long, meandering accumulation of unnecessary detail, where any number of episodes might have "got the chop" with little damage to the overall integrity of the film.
Jamie Woolley, BBC
An inspiring drama which, despite its uneven nature, still manages to pack a punch.
Brandon Judell, New York Theatre Wire
Beautiful Boxer: Boys Do Cry
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
A rather sensitive and sweet biopic about a someone who believes he's unfairly trapped in a man's body, a body he can use to whale the tar out of his opponents.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
Made without much finesse and tends to lumber rather than soar, but still possesses a sweetness that's rather disarming.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
Star Asanee Suwan is tenderly moving as Toom, showing his struggle to find internal peace as he fights savagely to get it.
Andy Klein, Los Angeles CityBeat
At almost two hours, the film might have benefited from some tightening, but that's a minor complaint.
David Noh, Film Journal International
A basically lighthearted, sprightly film about this most singular of real-life characters.
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com
Million Bhat Baby, anyone?

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Dean M

Incredible and extraordinary true story of a champion Thai boxer who underwent a sex change operation to become a beautiful woman.
Ina S

Wonderful true story of a transgender thai boxing champion in search of his own identity. The movie follows the tender boy, who becomes a tough boxing champion, a national hero and then a beautiful woman. Though the editing is absolutely appalling and the low budget shows everywhere… More
Wonderful true story of a transgender thai boxing champion in search of his own identity. The movie follows the tender boy, who becomes a tough boxing champion, a national hero and then a beautiful woman. Though the editing is absolutely appalling and the low budget shows everywhere the movie still creates an amazing atmosphere and beautiful imagery. The story is told almost lyrically and with great emotional intensity. Very touching and inspiring film about being true to oneself.