Beautiful Boxer

Just one shallow remark. It's hard to comprehend that such gentle female soul can coexist with such beautiful abs. That alone is a compelling reason to watch this movie.

Back in 2004, I gathered all my courage to go watch the cinema by myself  for the very first time (none of my friends would watch this movie with me) – a very daunting social experience for a highschooler. It was worth it. Six years later, a few days ago to be exact, SBS2 aired this movie, and I was reminded why it holds such a dear place in my heart, and I fell in love all over again.

I don’t know too much about Thailand, and I’ve only watched very few Thai movies. But one of the things (or stereotypes?) they’re famous for is the Lady Boys. A bit of mixed feelings here… but they’re always intriguing. Beautiful Boxer is about one of them.

It was a pretty simple story, but a remarkable one – and based on a true story, no less. Ever since Parinya Charoenphol, or Nong Toom could remember, she had always felt that she’s born in the wrong body of a boy. Quietly she would put on make-up, and dress up in girls’ clothes, and dream about being a true woman. Inadvertently she discovered her talent for kickboxing, and that became the only way to earn money for her family and perhaps… a sex change operation. A hard road, since it’s the most masculine sport ever – and she hated fights and violence.

It’s journey of self discovery as she learnt to appreciate Muay Thai – that it’s not simply a money-making tool but an art, commitment and dedication, and most importantly the courage to accept who she is and to become her own person. And indeed she got bolder and bolder – started to wear make-up on the ring, elaborate feminine accessories, and a shirt to cover her upper half, perform feminine moves for the ritual dance before matches, and kiss her defeated opponents as a way of saying sorry. How outrageous. This Lady Boy Boxer became an overnight sensation, reaching celebrity status, which undoubtedly made the media go crazy for a new animal circus, and led to cynical accusations of it all being a gimmick for personal gain and fame.

Feeling Bashful on The Trailer of Little Obama

Oh mah gah. I have to admit I was a little thrilled (ok, slightly more than a little) when I randomly googled and found the trailer of a movie Anak Menteng (Little Obama), which made news in Citizen Tube and Huffington Post. Whoa, really? Such guts, so this is actually a real movie and not some parody? So they really made a movie on his time spent from age 6-10 in Indonesia? And it garnered international interest? No matter how well made, it will always be inaccurate and dramatised, it will always attract haters. Especially with such a subject, the incumbent President of The United States himself. Cautiously, I pressed the play button with hope and anxiety.

OK. A few cringeworthy moments and the growing number of oddities… made me blush. so he learned how to fight from his step father? Huh? Is this like the Art of Fighting? A little pretty girl giving him flowers? Cheese alert on high. Then as I read along Huffington Post it dawned on me… Karate Kid ripoff!!! My heart sinks. That’s when I have a strong urge to hide under a table. A part of me wants to cry… why why why… the massive potential of this premise kills me. The difference of this trailer to another brilliant trailer of The Social Network (also based on a true story, also said to be an inaccurate portrayal) is as tall as the heavens. Then I read about how the movie was made. One month of research and the penning of script in four days, all in a rush to coincide with a visit to Indonesia by the titular man himself (which was cancelled, heh). *shake head with disbelief* Nooo!! Why not entrust this premise to giants like Nia Dinata or Rudy Soedjarwo? Why rushing and not making it slowly and lovingly, tempering it into gold?

I hope, though, it’s still somewhat an entertainment to those who stumbled here. After all it garnered international interest, if for the wrong reasons *sigh*.

Sepet

Girl is well-off and sheltered. Boy sells pirated DVD at the market. Boy meets girl. They fall in love. Trial and tribulations await, and it’s not just the difference in status. If you’re not used to South East Asian faces, (I’m not good either and that’s where I’m from. Shame.) you might not notice it, but they’re of different races – he’s Chinese (hence the slitty eyes, which translates to the titular Sepet) and she’s a native Malay.

What a cute gem. This is the only Malaysian movie that I’ve seen, and I’m glad that I chose well. The movie’s directed by Yasmin Ahmad, starring Sharifah Armani and Ng Choo Seong. Official site here. And Yasmin’s notes on her blog about the movie somewhere on this page.

Citizen Dog (Mah Nakorn)

Directed by Wisit Sasanatieng, starring Mahasamut Boonyaruk and Saengthong Gate-Uthong, 2004, dubbed as the Thai Amelie, narrated by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang. The Thai Amelie description makes me curious, plus, he’s cute!