Hymyilevä mies

This film tells the story of an amateur boxer in Finland, who decides to challenge the World Champion of boxing from the USA. He gets an agent and invites the champion to Finland for a round of home fight. The story then concentrates on how he prepares for this major tournament in Finland.

The film is black and white, which is appropriate as it is set int he 1960's. The story is about this simple man who seems to have no idea what he is doing. Olli is about to fight the match of his lifetime, and yet he is so nonchalant about it. His heart has clearly another agenda, which is not aligned with his agent's agenda. It makes me wonder why he is doing the match in the first place. His attitude and behaviour leads to the eventual inevitable outcome, but I still feel for him. Olli does have his charms, just not in the boxing ring.

I and my wife watched it together. Totally lovable film, story. Enjoy a side of boxing, sports mostly ignored in artistic representation. Women will like this movie esp.

A beautiful film. not memorable. but real nice. about love, sport, media pressure, a honest and modest man . nothing to reproach . nothing bad. only sin - impression to see a sketch. the viewer options for colors and lines, for define it as boxing story or love story is the thing who transforms the film as a spring drawing. the absence of director to give real roots to the story is, maybe, the lead error. sure, it is a biopic and the "true events" are enough for a reasonable adaptation. but you expect more than a neutre , interesting portrait. sure, one of good points is the predictability of story. you know the end. you expect it. and the basic motif for not be bored or apathetic is the performances of Oona Airola,Jarkko Lahti and Eero Milonoff. I admitt, I expected with enthusiasm to see this film. and I was not dissapointed. because it is a beautiful film.

Very, very good film. An unusual one with the boxing theme. Must see it. It will stay for you long after it has ended. 1962, black and White, Finnish movie. Amazing.

A baker in Finland, through an unsuspected order in his life, finds himself in exercises for boxing world championship whereas he was joining only amateur competitions before ten matches. This is a movie of an ordinary man's falling in limbo of his common life and the new life surrounded by sponsors, journalists, filmmakers, parties, feasts and shows. Olli's girlfriend represents his ordinary and peaceful life while the championship represents the new life. Movie has great scenes knitted by awesome cinematography and acting performances; plain, unexagerrated and aesthetic.