The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki

Hymyilevä mies (2016)

Timing: 1:35 (95 min)

6.6/10
103

6.633/10
1053

7.2/10
5200

All about film

Video 2

Photo 13

Actors and characters

Release date

2016-09-02

Country

Finland, Germany, Sweden

Production

Film i Väst, Tre Vänner, One Two Films, Aamu Film Company, SR

Genre

Drama, Romance

Budget

$1 200 000

Revenue

$562 537

Website

Director

Juho Kuosmanen

Actors

Jarkko Lahti, Oona Airola, Eero Milonoff, Joanna Haartti, Esko Barquero, Elma Milonoff, Leimu Leisti, Hilma Milonoff, Olli Rahkonen, Joonas Saartamo
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Mikko Myllylahti, Juho Kuosmanen

Producer

Jussi Rantamäki

Operator

J-P Passi

Composer

Miika Snåre

Artist

Audition

Anastasia Lobkovski

Editing

Jussi Rautaniemi
All team (35)

• In 2011, director Juho Kuosmanen attended a play about boxer Olli Mäki at a theater in Kokkola, Finland. By chance, Mäki himself was in the audience that evening. After the performance, theater director Jarkko Lahti had his picture taken with the boxer. Kuosmanen then said that if he ever made a film about Mäki, he would cast Lahti in the leading role. Lahti took this seriously, began training in boxing, and even fought in several amateur bouts (losing each one), thereby proving that he could indeed play Mäki.
• At the end of the film, the main characters, played by Jarkko Lahti and Uuna Airola, go to the harbor and encounter an elderly couple. The roles of the latter were played by the real Olli Mäki and Raija Mäki.
• Director Juho Kuosmanen, producer Jussi Lohijoki, and actors Jarkko Lahti and Una Airola – not to mention Olli Mäki himself, whom Lahti portrayed – all hail from the city of Kokkola.
• Elisa Aska's apartment was provided by the apartment of director Juho Kuosmanen.
• The film was shot entirely on 16mm black-and-white Kodak film.
• At the end of the film, the main characters, played by Jarkko Lähde and Uuna Airola, walk to the harbor and encounter an elderly man and woman. The roles of the latter were played by the real Olli Mäki and Raija Mäki.