transgender film | Hello 40s (formerly the Kword)

Have you ever watched a movie that just put you in a weird space? Ok. It’s happened to me more than
once when watching gay European movies. Not because I prefer happy gayness…but because I just need
a little more dialogue and a little less drab. It is a good movie if you’re into the austere.

Tomboy by French writer and director Celine Sciamma is an excellent character study. The story is about
Laure, a ten year old transgender boy. Laure’s family moves to a new neighborhood and she uses this
opportunity to be Mikael. We get to see Mikael assimilating, coming into his own as an adolescent male.
Laure/Mikael has an opportunity that many young transgendered people don’t. I love everything about
this movie…and yet, I’m still unclear as to whether I like it or not.

My girlfriend thinks it’s a boy thing. It definitely felt masculine. The stoic feel Mikael exudes. Laure’s
parents are good people. They’re a loving family. Yet, Mikael has to exist outside this dynamic. The little
sister is happy being co-conspirator and even enjoys having a sister who’s really a brother. This is a well-
adjusted movie about a well-adjusted transgender child. I should be happy, right?

Well…it is an interesting movie. Tomboy is definitely not a fun date movie but worth a look.

Many of us have seen the movies about transsexuals. They are usually sad, boring or outlandishly stereotypical. Not this one. Beautiful Boxer is about a boy who has to fight like a man to become a woman. What makes this movie even more exciting is that it’s the true story of celebrated Muay Thai kick boxer, Nong Thoom. The film opens with a reporter looking for the mysterious Nong on the streets of Bangkok. One shot is of a sexy lady standing in a doorway, wearing a t-shirt that says, “Self Made Woman.” I fell in love right then and there. Then the action starts. This ain’t no Starbooty. This movie is more Karate Kid than The Crying Game. Asanee Suwan is AWESOME as young Thoom. He is respectful and doesn’t make his character a caricature. I loved watching the transition from soft young boy to fierce femme fighter. Suwan is a professional Muay Thai fighter in his own right and the fight scenes in this movie rival some of my favorite mainstream movies like Ong Bak and The Protector with Tony Jaa. Love. Love. Love. If you like action, see this movie. If you like sexy lady-boys, see this movie. If you like sexy lady boys who whoop major ass, see this movie. No, really, see this movie! Beautiful Boxer is a breath of fresh, Bangkok air. Glad I found it! Now…since we’re all preoccupied with finding out who’s gonna win RuPaul’s Drag Race, next week’s review is all about Starbooty! A different kind of drag superhero…Yum!