Satree lek

This film is funny. However, I found the portrayal of transsexuals and gays over the top. They played on the stereotypes that all gays must act feminine, which is not true. I thought that the way which the actors acted was very exaggerated. This is quite unfair, as this film perpetuates the misunderstanding towards the transsexuals and gays instead of clearing the misunderstanding.

Putting this aside, this film explores the issues of discrimination against the transsexuals and gays, and also the pressure that they are under. These people have to work extra hard in order to prove themselves. Not only is this a comedy, it gives people something to think about too.

From Thailand, this film (winner of two 2001 Berlin Film Festival "Teddy Awards)" is an outrageous high-camp comedy, which despite its eccentricities, is sure to entertain all audiences, and have a strong positive message for everyone. THE IRON LADIES (English title) celebrates the true 1996 triumph of a group of hilarious Thai screaming queens.

Through a series of circumstances, the drag queens, join a new (and female) coach and the sole survivor (and only straight player) of a district volleyball squad to form a new team. Representing its district and now competing at the national level, they are clearly face down at odds. In spite of this and their individual "personal issues," they strive for championships and national recognition, creating an Asian phenomenon on the way.

The film is very Hollywood-slick, but at the same time, very Asian. It is a unique picture of very unconventional sportsmen battling bigotry on and off the court. IRON LADIES breathes new life into both the screwball comedy and the root-for-the underdog sports movie. Not to be missed.

I just watched this film (albeit dubbed in German!) and I just couldn't turn away! It's like a train wreck, but in a good way. I'd like to see it in English, but even in German it was funny with a few poignant moments and a bit of Bollywood thrown in for good measure. The characters were very believable tho I found the premise a bit obtuse, until I saw in the credits that it was based on a true story..that just blew me away. I wasn't aware that the Thais were SO into volleyball. I'm looking forward to seeing part 2 (so if anyone at arte reads this, please show part 2!). I'm going to do some more internet research about the background and recommend this film to all my friends.

Not every gay film *has* to be politically correct, the characters don't *have* to be non-stereotypical, and it doesn't *have* to "send the right message about the gay community," and it can *still* be fun, funny, and a treat to watch. Part of the reason that the characters were so outrageously stereotypical is because the real people on which they were based were themselves screaming queens - and, last I checked, there's nothing wrong with that. These were people who celebrated who they were - everyone else's opinions of them be damned. Moreover, their differences were what brought them together to win the championship, defy the odds, and defy perceptions of what they *should* be like. It puzzles me that other readers focus on the "negativity" of their behavior, when the story is about acceptance, fighting ignorance, and celebrating the differences in us all.

What more can you ask for in a movie than campy characters, memorable performances, a happy ending and non-stop laughter? The Iron Ladies truly delivers on all accounts.

The true story of a Thai volleyball team made up mostly of gay men, drag queens and transgendered women ("katoueys") that wins the men's national championship, The Iron Ladies is sassy, funny and extraordinary.

Cross-dressing Jung (Chaicharn Nimpulsawasdi), make-up loving soldier Nong (Giorgio Maiocchi) and transsexual cabaret star Pia (Kokkorn Benjathikoon) are the standouts in this hilarious cast of characters who unite together to overcome the adversity they face on a daily basis, and take Thailand by storm. Shiriohana Hongsopon gives probably the best performance as Coach Bee, the glue that holds the often hot-tempered and always effervescent team together.

As we see the Iron Ladies through to the national finals, all the characters receive a touch of humanity from each other, and rally together to reach the top. This hilarious romp will keep you laughing, and it will definitely be a film you will never forget! For it's fantastic script, three stars...the amazing acting, one more star...and because it's a movie you'll want to see again and again, one more. 5 stars out of 5!