Hymyilevä mies (2016)

The true story of Olli Mäki, the famous Finnish boxer who had a shot at the 1962 World Featherweight title.

Director:

Juho Kuosmanen

Writers:

Juho Kuosmanen, Mikko Myllylahti

Stars:

Jarkko Lahti, Oona Airola, Eero Milonoff

13 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jarkko Lahti	...	Olli Mäki
Oona Airola	...	Raija Jänkä
Eero Milonoff	...	Elis Ask
Joanna Haartti	...	Laila Ask
Esko Barquero	...	Snadi
Elma Milonoff	...	Evi
Leimu Leisti	...	Tuula
Hilma Milonoff	...	Anneli
Olli Rahkonen	...	Nyrkkeilijä
Joonas Saartamo	...	Nyrkkeilijä
Henrik Palosaari	...	Nyrkkeilijä
Sam-Peter Hirvikangas	...	Nyrkkeilijä
Antti Naakka	...	Nyrkkeilijä
Niklas Hyvärinen	...	Nyrkkeilijä
Sauli Helenius	...	Kulmamies

Storyline

The true story of Olli Mäki, the famous Finnish boxer who had a shot at the 1962 World Featherweight title. Immensely talented and equally modest, Olli's small town life is transformed when he is swept into national stardom and suddenly regarded as a symbol of his country. There's only one problem: Olli has just fallen in love. Inside of the ring, it's Finland vs. the USA, but outside, boxing and romance become unlikely adversaries vying for Olli's attention. This charming feature debut from Juho Kuosmanen was awarded the Un Certain Regard Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

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Plot Keywords:

boxer | in love | love | boxing | training | 

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Taglines:

As fiercely talented as he is modest, Finnish boxer Olli Mäki is swept into national stardom as he trains for a once-in-a-lifetime fight against the World Featherweight Champion. There's only one problem: he's just fallen in love.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance | Sport

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Finland]

Country:

Finland Sweden Germany

Language:

Finnish English

Release Date:

2 September 2016 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Den lyckligaste dagen i Olli Mäkis liv

Filming Locations:

Vartiosaari, Helsinki, Finland

Box Office

Budget:

€1,200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Aamu Filmcompany,ONE TWO Films,Film i Väst

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (SRD)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 2011 in Kokkola city theatre, director Juho Kuosmanen saw a play about Olli Mäki, who was also in the audience that night. After the play, the theatre director Jarkko Lahti posed together with Mäki for a picture. Kuosmanen said to Lahti that if he directed a film about Mäki, Lahti could play the leading role. Lahti took that as a promise and began training boxing. He even took a few official amateur bouts (which he lost) and thus it became obvious that he really would play Olli Mäki in this film.

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Goofs

A modern switchboard housing can be briefly seen in the hallway of Elis Ask's apartment.

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Soundtracks

You must be Olli?
Written by Miika Snåre
Arranged by Ykspihlajan Kino-orkesteri

User Reviews

Falling in love and rising in boxing!

This is a Finnish sport-biopic that was an official submission for the 2017 Oscars, but did not make it. Despite inspired by a real person, the film only focused on one event, a big event of his life. Sets in the early 60s, the country's one of the biggest sporting event is about to take place. So the pre-event incidents, including the preparation and all those related affairs were detailed in this film.

It's hard to say that everybody would end up liking it. Especially the sport segment. That's a major drawback of the film, but the other way around this is still very good. Only if you are okay with the facts over entertainment. So as I'm who already saw the film want to give a piece of advice for those who are yet to see it that watch it as a romance film. Yep, it is a better romance film than a boxing film. That's not how the pre developments swings, but it gets there a little late and then ends with an unexpected twist.

An amateur boxer Olli Maki got a shot at pro boxing, so he's heading Helsinki and making preparation to face the strongest opponent coming from the United States. Not just for him, but for the whole country, it is a historical event. So the pressure is on Olli's team to make the right progress, especially to please their sponsors. Seems it was a smooth ride, until Olli find himself in an unwanted distraction, particularly at that time which is a turning point in his professional life. This is the flavour of romance and the boxing, can those two go along? Is what the remaining film carefully revealed.

❝This is the shittiest moment to fall in love.❞

Like any sports films we had seen, this film as well all about pre event hype and the final act is given to the grand finale on the ring. Looks 'Cutie and the Boxer' should have been a perfect title, but this is nothing like that documentary film. It was not Olli's whole life, it was his falling and rising. Falling in love and rising to be a great boxer in Finland. But the problem is, both the things happening on the same time. More like romance versus profession. It's off the ring battle for Olli and can he win it, followed by a real battle.

Now you would remember other awesome boxing films where love story and boxing had met like 'Rocky', 'Cinderella Man' and many more. This film is not comparable with them, that's the saddest part of it. It's a black and white film, and the filmmakers say that's because to take us 60 years back to Finland. They used film rolls like the old way of filmmaking. Indeed, it worked, it was the backbone of the film along the great cast. There are many characters, but revolved around only 3-4. The dialogues were minimised and let the pictures talk.

The good news it was a 90 minute film with a decent pace. The one who played Olli was really good, but even in little lesser than that role, Raija enchants us. I can't forget that smile, it still appears front my eyes. Not just Olli, you might as well fall for her (at least for the actress who player that character). I also come to know the real couple's cameo for a brief was in the final scene. This is not the finest Finnish film I've seen, but I respect biopics as they tell the truth. It seems a better film for the older and matured guys, like above 30-35. But stay away if you are looking for a pleasure.

7/10