The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki

51st KVIFF - an unconventional film about a talented boxer, though it’s unconventionality is also very predictable, even banal. A festival without a black and white film wouldn’t be a festival, so we can check that box. (05/07/2016)

51. KVIFF – After watching this movie I almost feel as if the Finns of the 1960s were completely different from what they are today. But it is also entirely possible that they were influenced by a polar day at the time this movie is portraying. They were all talkative, open, forthcoming, and here and there also a bit sarcastic. So they were everything, just not Finnish enough. However, I have to praise this movie for portraying the boxer drama in a completely ordinary way and as it probably really happened. So no over-the-top American storytelling, but a simple story of Olli Mäki, who was groping around for a while before he understood where his true happiness lay. Unfortunately, the black-and-white scheme had a sleepy effect on me and so I got pretty bored at times. The finale of the movie beautifully showed why European movies are so real. You couldn’t find a more real boxer story if you tried. (04/07/2016)

Boxing movies simply aren't bad, and that goes for this Finnish one, shot in black and white, although it's definitely not for everyone. On one hand, it's very artistic, but on the other hand, it shows boxing in a slightly different light - not just as an adrenaline-fueled, tough sport, but also as a facade that can be quite cruel to athletes. (31/08/2017)

First of all, I would like to mention the period atmosphere that the filmmakers managed to get into the film. Furthermore, I was impressed by the extremely humanizing ordinariness of the story of the Finnish boxer Olli Mäki. All this, combined with the sober performances, makes the film very believable. I just get the feeling after watching it that it kind of really happened, which I definitely can't say about the vast majority of boxing movies. I also found it very sympathetic that on D-Day, Olli Mäki put his love for his beloved wife before success and fame. (75%) (07/10/2020)