Review: The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki

Winner of the Prix Un Certain Regard at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki (Hymyilevä mies) is as modest and remarkable as its title character. A boxing film shot on 16mm in beautifully weathered black and white, it elides many of the genre's expected beats by virtue of its ingratiating simplicity and unsentimentality.

A true life story of a Finnish prizefighter who was more historical footnote than much-heralded legend, the film focuses on the lead-up to the so-called "happiest day" of August 17, 1962, the day of the first world title fight ever to be hosted in Finland. Olli (Jarkko Lahti) is an underdog in more ways than one. Though he's had a fairly successful amateur career (capped off by his winning the European lightweight title), his ten matches as a professional pale in comparison to the 64-match winning streak of his opponent, American champion Davey Moore (John Bosco Jr.). Even more of an obstacle is the requirement that he fight Moore as a featherweight, forcing Olli to add a strict diet regime to his already punishing training routine. No one really seems to believe in him - not the press, not his sponsors, not his manager Elis Ask (Eero Milonoff), and not even Olli himself. "At least I won't be losing to a bad fighter," Olli tells the reporters during a press conference.

Olli's modest and accepting attitude dismays Elis, himself a former lightweight champion, who is constantly on the introverted boxer to realise the prestige the match could bring for Finland. Olli simply wants to be left in peace to train and also romance the equally sweet and humble Raija (a lovely Oona Airola), but Elis has him on an endless merry-go-round of press conferences, photo shoots, meet and greet dinners, and anything else that might help build the hype around Olli and the fight.

One of the many wonderful things about the film is its clear-eyed observation of its shy and self-effacing protagonist. This could have easily been another boxing film in which the underdog triumphs against all odds, but the screenplay by director Juho Kuosmanen and Mikko Myllylahti is less interested in that trajectory than they are by the arc of Olli and Raija's courtship. The filmmakers use the couple's romance as a springboard not only to offer a fresh take on the genre but also as an opportunity for social commentary. A relatively throwaway line like Olli remarking upon how much silverware there is at a fancy restaurant is as insightful as the comparatively more elaborate opening wedding in their rural hometown of Kokkola, which demonstrates the simpleness (but not simplemindedness) of its inhabitants.

There's an intimate, fly-on-the-wall feeling to the film, one enhanced by the inclusion of the documentary crew sent to film Olli's journey to being a national hero. Kuosmanen's direction may be unshowy but, make no mistake, this is a tightly controlled and impeccably crafted work. The production and costume design is immaculate as are the performances, especially that of Lahti's, whose bruised and bruising melancholy touches and endears.

The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki (Hymyilevä mies)

Directed by: Juho Kuosmanen

Written by: Mikko Myllylahti, Juho Kuosmanen

Starring: Jarkko Lahti, Oona Airola, Eero Milonoff, John Bosco Jr.