Counter Culture

Country: Brazil
Language: Thai / English
Netherlands:12 / Philippines:R-13 / Singapore:PG / USA:Unrated / Iceland:12
Duration: 118 min Reviewed by Al Martin

Beautiful Boxer stars Asanee Suwan, a real life professional Thai Boxer, as Parinaya Charoemphol “Nong Toom”, Thai Land’s famed transgendered Thai Boxer who entered the brutal world of full contact fighting to earn a living, to one day be able to afford a full sex change. In order to do this Nong Toom must make it to the big time, and train day in day out, battling his way to the top to achieve total femininity. I enjoyed the first half of the film more than the latter, seeing him learning Thai Boxing and growing as a person, overcoming the odds. I felt towards the end it started to drag a little, but overall a very entertaining film, based on a true story.

Full Cast and Crew for Beautiful Boxer (2003)

Directed by Ekachai Uekrongtham

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)

Desmond Sim

Ekachai Uekrongtham Cast (in credits order)

Asanee Suwan …. Nong Toom/Parinaya Charoemphol

Sorapong Chatree …. Pi Chart

Orn-Anong Panyawong …. Nong Toom’s mother

Nukkid Boonthong …. Nong Toom’s father

Sitiporn Niyom …. Nat

Kyoko Inoue …. Herself (Female Wrestler)

Keagan Kang …. Jack (the Reporter)

Yuka Hyodo …. Japanese fan

Somsak Tuangmkuda …. Pi Moo

Tanyabuth Songsakul …. Tam

Sarawuth Tangchit …. Nong Toom (as a boy)

Natee Pongsopol …. Nong Toom (as a novice monk)

Samnuan Sangpali …. Anaconda

Natawuth Singlek …. Ramba

Pat Sasipragym …. Hercules

Denkamol Kiatbussaba …. Power King

Ittipol Varuthirakorn …. Samson

Lampangchai Kiatsunanta …. Mountain Top

Payakpanlan Kiatmongeorn …. Night Tiger

Pi Day …. Cabaret show girl

Narisara Soneaim …. Prostitute

Watchkarn Krinmueng …. Female reporter

Kazuhiko Nobukane …. Japanese ringmaster

Erik Markus Schuetz …. Hooligan Writing credits (in alphabetical order)

Desmond Sim

Ekachai Uekrongtham Produced by Ekachai Uekrongtham …. producer

Original Music by Amornbhong Methakunavudh

Cinematography by

Choochart Nantitanyatada (director of photography)

Makeup Department

Kraisorn Sampethchareon …. makeup artist Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Bancha Chongon …. second assistant director

Naradol Liaopairoj …. first assistant director

Woradej Pongpinyophat …. third assistant director Sound Department

Narathip Tungkaseranee …. boom operator

Jasmin Vorabutr …. sound editor Stunts

Kadam Chaipanich …. Muay Thai consultant

Don Ferguson …. utility stunts

Erik Markus Schuetz …. stunt actor: fight sequence Other crew

Sumeth Mangrichan …. continuity

Kazuhiko Nobukane …. wrestling consultant

Suthsawat Sutcharitkul …. personality consultant

Sanae Taptimthong …. fight choreographer