Set in the 1960s and shot in black and white on gorgeous, grainy 16mm, Juho Kuosmanen’s charming slice-of-life drama is a warm, welcome sideways look at the Finnish featherweight boxing champion Olli Mäki. Kuosmanen’s camera follows Mäki (Jarrko Lahti) documentary-style, keeping pace while he trains for a high-profile fight with an American opponent and embarks on the ensuing publicity tour. But the ever-modest Mäki is uncomfortable with his newfound status as national hero, and would prefer to spend his off-time with girlfriend, Raija (Oona Airola, lovely and low key). The film is at its most fun outside the ring and spending time with the couple: at a wedding in the rural village of Kokkola; night swimming; she riding on the handlebars of his bike and laughing.
