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. Directed by Juho Kuosmanen (Finland, Germany, Sweden, 2016).
The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki opens at Lincoln Plaza Cinema Friday, April 21—see it here first!
“One of the most likable films of the year—sweet-natured and completely free of bragging or trash talk.”—The Independent
“So gracefully does The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki sidestep the formulaic mold of struggle, perseverance, and simple victory or defeat that it could almost be considered an anti-fight picture. Either way, the film’s delicate balance of humor, melancholy and sensitive human insight should ensure that it goes a few rounds on international specialty screens.”—The Hollywood Reporter
About the director
Juho Kuosmanen is a Finnish film director and screenwriter. He graduated from Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture in 2014. Kuosmanen’s graduation film called The Painting Sellers was nominated for five Finnish film Academy Awards (set design, screenplay, best actress, best director, best film).
The Painting Sellers won the first prize in Cinéfondation in Cannes Film Festival in 2010. The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki is Kuosmanen’s first feature-length film. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the top prize.
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Image courtesy of Mubi
WED—4-5-2017—7 PM
$12 ($7 ASF Members)
92 min. In Finnish with English subtitles.