The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki

Released Apr 21, 2017

1h 32m

Drama

List

98%

Tomatometer

57 Reviews

75%

Audience Score

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

Full Review

Peter Hartlaub

San Francisco Chronicle

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

Rated: 3/4

May 10, 2017

Full Review

Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

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

Rated: 4/5

Apr 23, 2017

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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david l

The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki wears its influences proudly on its sleeves. Its artistic black-and-white cinematography and the naturalistic, sensual approach to storytelling evoke sixties cinema, especially the French New Wave. With such an influence came also the baggage of sparse dialogue, typical biographical conventions and weaker characterization. The romance, though, works entirely and that ending is immensely beautiful.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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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

Full Review

Audience Member

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

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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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

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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
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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