Customer Reviews

The Iron Ladies

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Note that this is a Thailand produced movie so don't be shock if you hear the dialogue is in Thai. There maybe voice over in English or in Thai with English Subtitles (I highly recommend the latter... it's more fun & authentic).

Based on a true story in Thailand about how a group of Queens, Gays and Transversites who love volleyball but have never been able to play the game at National Level due to their sexual orientation.

When the Lampung Volleyball Team was looking to form a new team and also seek new recurits beacause the new lady coach wants a fresh start. These "gals" went head on to apply and got into the state team with the help and blessing of this new coach who based the selection solely on the players' skills and nothing else.

Naturally, this group (called the Iron Ladies) created a wave and caused quite a stir; Not just because they of what they are BUT they eventaully made it to the National Games (The hightest honour in Thailand) and did well. I won't leak out the ending here.

It goes to show though these queers may be laugh upon by some but most Thais do show their support and tolerance for them. There are lots of hysterical moments and great punch lines.

Just get it, watch it... and chances are, you'll keep falling off your chair with laughter.

IRON LADIES is a terrific little movie from Thailand that is based on a true story of a Volleyball team comprised of a group of irresistible characters who range from heterosexual, transgender, gay, and drag queens. Assembled by a new coach chosen to propel a losing team to the country volleyball championship, the antics involve the miscegenation of this varied group into a winning format under the umbrella of a team name 'Iron Ladies'. The over-the-top antics of the most flagrant of the drag queens serves to meld the other semi-closeted and straight members into a true team spirit, upholding the best values of good sportsmanship. As the Iron Ladies gain in winning their way to the finals, the expected parental concerns, gay bashing, and unrequited love stories intervene, but these all only serve to keep the wacky group real and grounded in humanity. This film is not unlike the wide appeal of 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert', 'La Cage aux Folles', and 'The Fluffer' to mention only a few of the movies that stretch the audience's experience a bit. It is a genuinely sensitive, well produced, well acted film that deserves a wide audience who seek understanding of all social categories.

This is a wonderful Thai film, based on a true story about an unusual men's volleyball team which won the national championships. The team is made up of gay and transsexual men, who are all played extremely well as strong, caring and determined atheletes, fighting homophobia and bigotry in the local institutions. The production quality is amazing for a low-budget film, and you really get a sense for the local culture. A interesting and thoughtful, yet fun and amusing film.

I recently purchased this movie on DVD as a gift to myself and what a good move.
I have been buying a lot of gay films and I would say that a majority of the films tend to be either violent,tragic and unresolved issues with the main characters either being beaten, so much anger with parents and mostly dying.
Iron Ladies delivers a different punch and it was very refreshing, the laughters I had the whole time I was viewing it made all the worries and exhaustion of the day all melt away, it showed me the humanity and kinship we human beings are capable off and how we should just tolerate each other and just accept one another for what we are God's children and have LOTS of fun in our lives and loves and no matter who we are,transvestite,transgendered,queen or straight we can all get along and find love too along the way. This is what the movie has taught me.
the characters, especially Jung and Pia, taught me to be true to who I am and even in adversity face it with courage and lots of make-up foundation, that we do not need to conform to be happy and that love and friendship do conquer all.
I was amazed that a movie with this topic could be made by an Asian Director and I guess after watching the film other societies are more open in their acceptance of people's sexual orientation that we Americans have and that we might think Gay Revolution has move forward here I guess it has accelarated in others.
Bravo to the film makers by showing a different view and perspective on Gay Life and this will be viewed and shared to friends and I will personally keep as a precious Gem,thank you Amazon for including such a wide range of Gay Films.

"Iron Ladies" - as others on these pages have well noted - has its shortcomings: the acting is far from top quality (the 'Coach Bee' character, notably, doesn't act so much as read lines); the sports sequences - for those of us now used to 'Seabiscuit,' 'Ali' or even 'Shaolin Soccer' quality material - is laughably amateurish; the script is trite; the film editing herky-jerky, etc., etc. And, no one is going to rush out and buy this soundtrack, for sure.

All well noted. But what "Iron Ladies" *does* have going for it is a good deal of heart and earnestness in telling what is, amazingly enough, a true story. Indeed, what seals the deal here in terms of having to check 'Ladies' out are the closing credits where - suddenly - we're shown newsreel clips of the 'Real Iron Ladies' squad and we suddenly realize:

a) It's all true (the essential elements of the story, at least).

b) There's a fairly jaw-dropping resemblance between these 'real' folks and their movie stand-ins (and it turns out Coach Bee may not have been such a bad actress after all, as a picture of the real Coach Bee elicted an 'Oh, My God!' from me and my wife).

c) No lie: this group could really play top-notch volleyball (evident in the clips).

This film is hilarious, sweet, and at the same time touches on the discrimination transgendered folks face. LOVE IT!!

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 makes it to 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 for 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! YOU WILL LOVE IT!

Since gay films are in the news (the critical acclaim earned by Brokeback Mountain), it's worth re-visiting another film about gays which touches on the same themes of love and tolerance (or intolerance): Iron Ladies, a 2000 release from Thailand.

Unlike the more serious, if not downright dour Brokeback Mountain, Iron Ladies is a spirited, very Asian telling of a wonderful story: how a group of transvestite gay males came together to form a champion volleyball team in 1996. This isn't just "based on a true story," it is a true story; the actors' even bear an uncanny resemblance to the actual guys and gals (their coach was a gay female) who lived the reality (they're shown in some clips at the end of the film).

Unlike most Western films about gays, this film isn't afraid to have fun, from the ribald gutter language to the over-the-top antics of some of the players. For added frisson, the team captain is a hetero guy who has to come to grips with his own ignorance and intolerance.

The Asian influence is very visible; at several points, a cheesy pop song breaks out for no particular reason, and the action sequences of the guys playing volleyball do not have the realism expected of a Hollywood sports film. Still, all the sports movie cliches are intact, right down to the cliff-hanger final grudge match for the national championship.

(Volleyball, it seems, is the Thai equivalent of basketball in the States, while the ultra-violent Thai kickboxing more or less assumes the role of the NFL--if football included boxing and no-holds-barred kung fu.)

Yet despite the cliches, the film perceptively imparts the swirling interplay of tolerance and intolerance within Thai society for openly gay people. Despite the cliches, we are openly rooting for the team to win, and we hope for each individual's happiness. Especially touching is the husband and wife who openly accept their son as he is, and enthusiastically celebrate his team's success.

As a footnote, it must be said that the one actor who plays a dancer is more beautiful than most women. Having seen similar guys in Thailand myself, I can only say the outward transformation of a Thai male into a female is most remarkable and most convincing.

This movie managed to charm me despite over-the-top performances, a ridiculous script, and badly shot sports footage. The characters are idosyncratic but warm-hearted, and you can't help but root for them. A clip of the real 'Iron Ladies' displayed during the closing credits also adds a little weight to what is otherwise a featherweight movie.

I first saw this film in Bangkok when it was first released, I don't speak thai, but love the people and the culture, and the acceptance of the ka-toi (lady boys) in Thai society. I wasn't sure what I was letting myself in for at first, but I immediately warmed to the movie, found it absolutely hysterical and went back to see it once more the same week. I was so happy when it was released on DVD and immediately bought it. There has since been a sequel (Iron Ladies 2) which is also good, but doesn't come up to the standard of the original. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED