The Iron Ladies is the true story of a Thai men's volleyball team competing in the 1996 Thai national championship final against a team made up mostly of gay men, transvestites, and transgender people. Mon, a very talented player, is constantly excluded from the selections of various teams because of his homosexuality. Jung, Mon's best friend, also experienced the humiliation of not passing the selection process just because he was gay, but on the other hand, he is more optimistic. Things change for them when she is hired. Bee, as a coach, with the aim of assembling a winning team. However, when Bee chooses Jung and Mon from among the team's players, the others rebel. Determined to pursue her goal, Bee asks Mon to find good players among her friends. They pass the selection. Nong, a gay military sergeant, Pia, the transgender star of a cabaret show, Chat, Pia's boyfriend, and Wit, whose family doesn't know he's gay.
Presented in Italy at the first edition of the Gender Bender Festival in Bologna, organised by Arcigay Il Cassero, audience award at the Toronto Film Festival and special mention at the Berlin Film Festival, The Iron Ladies is finally released in Italian cinemas on February 4, 2005.
The press screening of the film will take place on Tuesday 25 January at 9pm at the Sala Anica, in Viale Regina Margherita 286 in Rome.
The Iron Ladies – CREDITS
Original title: Satree lek
Nation: Thailand
Year: 2001
Genre: Comedy
Duration: 10′
Directed by: Yongyooth Hongkonthun
Cast
Jesdaporn Pholdee – Chai
Sahaphap Tor – Mon
Ekachai Buranapanit – Wit
Giorgio Maiocchi – Nong
Chaicharn Nimpulsawasdi – Jung
Kokkorn Benjathikoon – Pia
Shiriohana Hongsopon – Coach
Phomsit Sitthijamroenkhun – April
Sutthipong Sitthijamroenkhun – May
Anucha Chatkaew – June
Production: Visut Poolvoralaks for Tai Entertainment Co.Ltd
Distribution: Sharada
Release date: January 28, 2005
Plot
‘The true story of the Thai men's volleyball team, composed mostly of gay men, transgender people, and transvestites, who won the national championship in 1996. When the provincial government appoints a new coach to build a winning team, he decides that everyone will be eligible for the new team's tryouts. This is the opportunity Mon and Jung have always awaited: despite being highly talented players, they have consistently been rejected by every team because they are gay. A decision that, despite envy and jealousy, will lead to the final victory and the jubilation of the two young friends.