Tom of Finland
Tom of Finland
Tom of Finland
Directed by:
Dome KarukoskiCinematography:
Lasse FrankCast:
Pekka Strang, Jakob Oftebro, Werner Daehn, Þorsteinn Bachmann, Jessica Grabowsky, Jimmy Shaw, Lauri Tilkanen, Kari Hietalahti, Meri Nenonen, Siim Maaten (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Touko Laaksonen, a decorated officer, returns home after a harrowing and heroic experience serving his country in World War II, but life in Finland during peacetime proves equally distressing. He finds post-war Helsinki rampant with homophobic persecution, and men around him even being pressured to marry women and have children. Touko finds refuge in his liberating art, specialising in homoerotic drawings of muscular men, free of inhabitations. His work made famous by his signature Tom of Finland became the emblem of a generation of men and fanned the flames of a worldwide gay revolution. (Saffron Hill Films)
(more)Reviews (3)
Tom of Finland has undoubtedly an unmissable value in that it presents the life and work of a controversial artist who is not so well known in this country and depicts the conditions and perception of sexual minorities in Finland and California at that time. But from a dramatic point of view, I found the film somewhat empty and lacking any downright memorable or powerful scene. It wasn't even as shocking and overt as one might initially think. A mediocrely made biopic, unfortunately nothing more.
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This is definitely not a film for everyone, but I think Tom of Finland was an interesting person and his drawings deserve cult status because they're recognizable and very targeted. The film is quite successful in deciphering the individual motivations that led Tom to express himself through drawing.
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The biographical drama Tom of Finland is a beautiful cinematic tribute to a man who refused to conform to mainstream society, never gave up his aspirations, and became a visual artist who greatly enriched the gay community with his sensual drawings. Touko Laaksonen tackled topics that shocked and helped open up social issues that had been taboo until then. I really liked the visuals in this movie. (75%)
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