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Anyone who has spent more than a short time in Thailand, is likely to have come across
Katoey, the catch-all term for Thailand's large number of transvestites and
transsexuals, popularly referred to here in Japan as Mr Ladies.
Katoey cabarets
are now as regular a feature of many a tourist's trip to Thailand as a visit to the
Grand Palace or a boat ride down the Chao Praya.
In fact the Thai
representative who won the 1999 Miss Queen of the Universe pageant, a beauty pageant for
"women of the second category", the town of Pattaya provided him with a victory procession,
complete with marching band, and congratulations from the mayor.
Over recent years, however, Katoey have not been content to remain a tourist curiosity,
but have been showing that whatever the doctor may have done, they have the Cahones
to take on all-comers.
In 1998 they took the fight to that bastion of Thai machismo, Muay Thai, or
kick boxing. Parinya Kiabutsuaba, or Nong Tum as she is known, a transvestite kickboxer
from the northern city of Chiang Mai, had the opportunity to fight at the Bangkok's
Lumpini Stadium, the mecca of Muay Thai. A year and a half after the ensuing
media circus, Nong Tum announced that she was quitting boxing, having a sex re-assignment
operation, and pursuing a career in entertainment.
Nong Tum was welcomed by Thai boxing, which was at that time undergoing a a bit of a
slump, as a means of reviving interest and drawing back the local fans, as well as
pulling in tourists. Two years earlier, however, the Thai government was not prepared to
allow Katoey volleyball players on its national team. The issue came to a head when a
volleyball team from the north of Thailand, made up almost entirely of Katoeys, fought
its way to and won the National Championship final.
While officials may feel that Katoey
cabarets are all very well for tourists, having them act as representatives of the nation
in international sports tournaments was another matter, and decided that the
nation's image would be damaged should members of this team be allowed on the national
squad. Continually passed over the original team eventually drifted apart.
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It is this team's story that Satree Lex, (Iron Ladies in English, and
Atakku Nambaa Haafu in Japanese) is based upon. The movie did great box office in Thailand and has been
widely distributed abroad. While it is often said that Thailand exhibits a high degree of
tolerance towards its Katoey population, and they are a regular feature on Thai TV, when it comes to
film the movie's director, Yongyoot Thongkongtoon,
has said that
this film breaks all the rules... Most of the lead characters are gay. And, you know, gays
are a no-no, a taboo subject in Thai films.
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The movie has been criticized in some quarters for its heavy reliance on obvious humor
that relies heavily on, and serves to reinforce Katoey stereotypes. It also seems strange
that in a country where so many Katoeys can walk around in public with little concern for
their physical safety, not one of the team, who in reality consisted of 5 Katoeys and one
straight guy, is played by a real-life Katoey.
Among the laughter the film does explore
society's attitudes towards homosexuality, and the main characters each of whose personalities,
and personal situation is very different, are well developed and evoke a good deal of
empathy. Indeed, kick boxer Nong Tum is quoted in
Time Magazine as saying that he thinks the movie is great and
really does a good job of showing the "real life of the katoey"
Although there is a great deal of visual humor (good for those battling with Japanese
subtitles), much of the (apparently) hilarious Thai gay-slang that is used is lost in
translation. Satree Lek is playing at Salon Cinema until June 8th. Click here for times.
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