There’s a reason why boxers are called "prize fighters." The plum cash reward is enough motivation for any kid from the slums with a rock solid first to get his body all beaten and bruised up on the ring. For others, the money is only the first step to real prize. Depression era boxer James Braddock, whose life was recently celebrated on film, stunned reporters when he revealed what made his second win possible: "Milk. I’m fighting for milk." But if that still doesn’t knock the wind out you, you haven’t heard of Parinya Charoenphol whose real life story is featured in the new film "Beautiful Boxers."
Charoenphol’s –more popularly known in Thai boxing circles as Nong Toom – reason for fighting may strike one as bizarre. As a boy, Toom briefly joined a Buddhist monastery but was dismissed due to some startling infraction – he loved to monastery but was make–up. At a tender age, Toom realized he was a girl trapped in a boy’s body. After leaving the monastery, Toom wandered into a camp that trained teenage kickboxers. Here he discovered into a camp that trained teenage kickboxers. Here he discovered that he also had a knack for swooping kicks, flying elbows and a sledgehammer uppercut. When he went on to win matches, Toom quickly drew raves and hisses in Thai boxing circles for his ring appearance and pre–game rituals as much as his making swift work of his opponents. He loved to put on make up and perform pre–fight dance routines before a match that had Thai boxing purists crying foul. But regardless of what others would say, Toom knew his sexuality couldn’t be repressed. And for this, he was obsessed with winning every match he could with only one mission in mind – to save enough money so he could have a complete sex change operation.
The film has nabbed several awards in film festival circuits including the GrandPrix in the Brussels International Film Festival and the Montreal Film Festival. It also opened favorably in the US and garnered some of the best reviews from critics.
"Beautiful Boxers" is a VIVA International Pictures release. Regular showing stars Jan. 11.
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