The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki

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The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki

2017

1h 32m

Drama

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98%

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56 Reviews

76%

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50+ Ratings

Olli Mäki loses a fight for the world championship in the second round by knockout in front of a packed stadium.

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Critics Consensus

The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki sidesteps sports biopic clichés with a beautifully filmed, well-acted look at the balance between career fulfillment and personal happiness.

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Scott Marks

San Diego Reader

J.P. Passi's hand-held black-and-white cinematography cries out for big-screen viewing.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 2, 2017

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Peter Hartlaub

San Francisco Chronicle

This is a very small film, with a big heart.

Rated: 3/4

May 10, 2017

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Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

A warm, welcome sideways look at the Finnish featherweight boxing champion Olli Mki.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 23, 2017

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Dan Scully

Cinema76

There's just something cozy and delightful about the whole thing that has left me glowing in the time since I watched it.

Mar 25, 2020

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David Harris

Spectrum Culture

An appealing and harmless film that slyly subverts a genre long known for its unshakable touchstones.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 7, 2019

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki succeeds as a unique endeavor because Kuosmanen elides formula.

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 9, 2019

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 32 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Finnish and American English audio versions with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/07/25

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Audience Member

8/10 The best we can say about this movie is that Juho Kuosmanen had complete control of the story from beginning to end. The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mali trlls the true story of the fight for the Lightweight

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

Cute and fun movie with an atypical resolution. Really enjoyable!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

Una maravilla de direcciòn en blanco y negro, una pelìcula sobre el box sin caer en lugares ccomunes.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

A winningly perceptive Finnish biopic that also excels as a whimsical existential dramedy. Anchored by Scandinavian dour humour and beatific vignettes, it examines if happiness is really about personal gains or emotional fulfilment. Deserves to be seen by a wider audience, rather than be predictably relegated to the niche "B&W" or "Foreign film" shelves.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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Audience Member

I like it. Small, simple, touching. A love story rather than a boxing movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Juho Kuosmanen

Director

Jarkko Lahti

Olli Mäki

Eero Milonoff

Elis Ask

Oona Airola

Raija Jänkä

Joonas Saartamo

Actor

John Bosco Jr.

Davey Moore

Lost City of Z and Fargo Season 3 Are Certified Fresh

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Synopsis

Olli Mäki loses a fight for the world championship in the second round by knockout in front of a packed stadium.

Director: Juho Kuosmanen
Producer: Jussi Rantamäki
Screenwriter: Juho Kuosmanen, Mikko Myllylahti
Distributor: MUBI
Production Co: One Two Films, Tre Vänner Produktion AB
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Finnish
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 21, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 8, 2017
Runtime: 1h 32m

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