Iron Ladies 2 (Satree Lex 2)

Director(s): Youngyooth Thongkonthun
Writer(s): Youngyooth Thongkonthun
Producer(s): Jira Maligool, Prasert Vivattanananpong
Starring: Girorgio Maiocchi, Chaicharn Nimpulsawasdi

After winning big at the National Championships, a predominantly homosexual volleyball team known as the Iron Ladies split up when Nong, one of their teammates, joins up with Prasert, a morally questionable promoter bent on copying the Iron Ladies' previous success. A chance meeting in China, however, finds the team questioning a possible reunion, particularly after Nong learns of Prasert's plans to offer the team captaincy to Muangman, a notorious homophobe.

Once again the Iron Ladies are hitting the courts, and once again they are hitting the hearts of viewers everywhere. This time, they hit the court against a team that is a carbon copy of themselves. This film truly raises the issue of gentrification and the commerciality of the queer community, whether it is intended or not. In the first film, we see how an underdog team can become a hot commodity. in the second film, we see how being abnormal, in this case queer, can become popular. After the Queer Eye phenomenon, it seems that having a gay best friend or knowing someone gay was the coolest thing. While sure, gay visibility became huge! Along with the gay popularity that gays are good at everything in life. Art, fashion, furniture, decoration, cooking, etc. In addition, i love getting to know backstories of characters and this film goes over how such a caring group of friends was created. It reminds me of the way I met all of my friends and how the bond i've formed with them was developed through the years. Me being sentimental again, i know. You can probably tell, I miss my friends.

Iron Ladies (Satree Lex)

Director(s): Youngyooth Thongkonthun
Writer(s:): Visuttchai Boonyakarnjawa, Jira Maligool, Youngyooth Thongkonthun
Producer(s): Youngyooth Thongkonthun
Starring: Chaicharn Nimpulsawasdi, Sahaphap Tor

Iron Ladies is an exuberant comedy about the journey of a volleyball team composed largely of transsexuals, drag queens, and effeminate gay men to the 1996 Thai male championships. Positioned at the team's spiritual core are best friends Mon and Jun, the former of whom is a jaded transvestite, and the latter is a flamboyant drag queen with uncharacteristically supportive parents. When the provincial governor hires a butch female coach to amass a "dream team" for the national volleyball competitions, Mon and Jun are chosen for the lineup. Their selection outrages their testosterone-addled teammates, who, with the exception of one player, quit in protest. Desperate, the coach asks Mon to recruit new teammates, and in short order he summons a transsexual stage performer, a muscular army sergeant cum makeup artist, a closeted gay boy, and transvestite triplets April, May, and June. Conflict ensues, lessons are learned, team spirit is strengthened, and eyebrows are plucked.

What surprises me the most about this film is that while Thailand is worlds behind in modernity compared the metropolitan US, their acceptance of queer life is surprisingly better. The last four Thai films i've seen have been not only pro-gay, but also pro-transgender, a hurdle that the U.S. has not gotten past. the comedic elements of the film rarely fall upon gay stereotypes and rely more on the quirkiness of the characters. At the heart of this film is a strong motif of friendship and the love of the game. The group of rag-tag players forms an elite team that not only wins the national championship, but also changes a nation's perspective on sports. Even Beautiful Boxer did not have that impact.

In the end, this film has pizazz and will always remain one of my favorites in the gay pantheon of queer cinema. It has sentiment, vigor, plot, characters, and of course laugh out loud moments that keep you smiling scene after scene. A masterful film from Thailand that I wish America will one day emulate.