"Beautiful Boxer" is an absorbing sports biopic about a young Thai man who becomes a successful kickboxer in order to raise money for a sex change operation.

The film examines what it takes to compete in the sport, but it also delves into sexual identity issues. It compares well with "Ma Vie en Rose (My Life in Pink)," another film about a boy that is crucified by society for his habit of wearing female clothes.

The story is recounted by the main character, Parinya "Nong Toom" Charoenphol, played by the real kickboxer, Asanee Suwan. From a very early age Charoemphol, is teased for his identification with females, and his love of traditional female dancing.

Nong Toom wants to relieve his poor parents of the burden of paying for education, so he becomes a monk, and is educated at no cost. But that doesn’t last, and Nong Toom quits in order to return home, and help his troubled father.

Nong Toom’s brother is sent to kick boxing camp to develop his skills, but it turns out that Nong Toom has more of a natural gift for it. He starts training, and the camp owner’s wife lets him secretly use her makeup and lipstick.

Eventually, Nong Toom begins to incorporate his drag queen persona into his kick boxing. This gimmick gives him a psychological edge over his opponents because it causes them to underestimate him.

Thai kickboxing is surprisingly like American wrestling. The kick boxers are bigger than life figures that wear gaudy costumes, and sometimes threaten each other before the matches.

There are also some lovely dream sequences in which the short haired, masculine Nong Toom appears to speak to the new feminine version.

They reminded me of the charming dream sequences in "Ma Vie en Rose ("My Life in Pink"), in which a fairy godmother-like figure appears to the transvestite protagonist to dispense advice.

"Beautiful Boxer" is an unusual blend of genres. But the film includes a few too many kickboxing matches for my taste; after awhile, they strained my patience and began to become predictable.

But overall, "Beautiful Boxer" is a stylish, touching, and engrossing sports film.