By – Gareth Jones

For fans of Finnish cinema, black and white boxing movies, everyday man stories

I swear I am not only watching boxing movies.  My last review was of the 1972 classic Fat City, and somehow when I logged onto MUBI, I stumbled across this Finnish film from 2016.  The image used for promotion was of Olli and his girlfriend, future wife Raija joyfully laughing and frozen in time, capturing a moment of love.  I immediately thought, “This is a film that I need to watch.”  I am happy to report that this simple image accurately summarizes the experience of the film.  I fell in love with these characters (based on real people) and their approach to life.

The film tells the story of the real life boxer Oli Mäki, (the “Baker from Kokkola”) as he prepares to fight top ranked featherweight Davey Moore in 1962.  It is shot in beautiful black and white, similar to another famous boxing movie about a real boxer, Raging Bull.  However, this film is the antithesis in almost every way to that film.  Scorcese’s magnificent presentation of Jake La Motta is a sharp contrast to the quiet, humble, Oli Mäki. The frenetic and violence of Scorcese is replaced with the contemplative and meditative approach of Juho Kuosmanen, directing his first film.  Here, he shows us how Oli prepares for the fight, but also slowly falls in love with his girlfriend Raija, and how uncomfortable he is in the promotional aspects of being in an international title fight.  He wants nothing to do with the wining and dining.  His trainer, Elis Ask (perfectly played by Eero Milonoff) has brought him to train in Helsinki and asks him to participate in all sorts of ridiculous promotional events with fashion magazines and local businesses.  Oli has brought Raija with him and they are staying with Elis’s family in tight quarters with his wife and children.  Initially, this is a fun new experience, but very quickly they begin to feel out of place.  To Elis, Oli seems distracted and uninterested (which he partially is) but ultimately, Oli just wants to be who he is and not put on any pretence.  Ultimately, he does have the fight, but the film really focuses on his desire to return to Raija and normal life as a baker.

The Finnish equivalent to the Danish concept of hygge or coziness is called “kalsarikänni” which translates to “pantsdrunk” and refers to the habit of drinking alone in your underwear and sitting down, but it also reflects an idea of celebrating the simpler aspects of life.  There definitely is some drinking in the film and sauna (be prepared for lots of male nudity) and other bonding aspects, but Oli also yearns for the simpler aspects of life in his small hometown.

The acting is excellent led by the duo of Jarkko Lahti as Olli Mäki and Oona Airola as Raija Jänkä.  They bring a believability to their performances, subtle mannerisms and ways of looking at each other and the world.  Jarkko goes through all the requisite training ordeals seen in other boxing films, and is a very effective boxer for those scenes.  At the same time, he brings a depth to the character with moments of unspoken yearning, both for his girlfriend and for his past life.

The cinematography by Jani-Petteri Passi is exceptional. It was shot on 16mm black and white Kodak film and he uses this aesthetic to perfection, capturing the distinctive light of Finland.

Like many films based on real people and real events, we already know how the story ends.  Great films allow us to see between the headlines and really get to know the essence of the people.  This film accomplishes that feat very well.  After watching it, you will want to go skip some stones in a lake and breathe some fresh cold air.