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.