The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki
2016 · Movie · NR · 95 min · ★ 6.6 · 91% critics
In summer 1962, a Finnish boxer prepares for a career-defining world title bout as the spotlight and expectations grow. While training, cutting weight, and handling the pressure around him, he’s thrown off balance by an unexpected romance that makes him question what matters most.
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Streaming on MUBI.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Original title
- Hymyilevä mies
- Years
- 2016
- Release date
- 2016-09-02
- Language
- FI
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Critic score
- 91/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.6/10 (106 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a low-key sports biopic that plays more like a romance, with quiet pressure and personal stakes; Not for you if you want nonstop boxing action or big crowd-pleasing drama like Rocky.
Pros: tender romance focus; grounded true-story feel; brisk 90-minute pace | Cons: light on boxing thrills; more facts than fun; may feel low-key
Themes
- love
- finland
- 1960s
- boxing
Awards & recognition
- Jussi Award — Best Film · 2017
- European Film Award — European Discovery of the Year · 2016
- Un Certain Regard · 2016
- Jussi Award — Best Film
- International Submission to the Academy Awards · 2017 · nominated
Show all 7 awards →
- European Film Award — European Discovery of the Year · 2016 · nominated
- European University Film Award · 2016 · nominated
Cast & crew
Jarkko Lahti
as Olli Mäki
Oona Airola
as Raija Jänkä
Eero Milonoff
as Elis Ask
- JH
Joanna Haartti
as Laila Ask
- EB
Esko Barquero
as Snadi
- EM
Elma Milonoff
as Evi
- LL
Leimu Leisti
as Tuula
- HM
Hilma Milonoff
as Anneli
Olli Rahkonen
as Boxer
Joonas Saartamo
as Boxer
Directed by Juho Kuosmanen