TOM OF FINLAND
2017 Films • 1h 55m
Tom of Finland is a beautiful and fascinating filmic portrait of Finnish artist Touko Laaksonen (Pekka Strang), and his journey to international success.
In the film, Touko returns after the Continuation War to his somber and moralistic home of Finland, where homosexuality is illegal. To entertain himself and his friends, he begins drawing sketches of chiseled, free, uninhibited and proud gay men. The illustrations are considered a danger in Finland, so Touko stashes them away. He even hides them from his sister Kaija (Jessica Grabowsky), even though the siblings are very close. While working at an advertising agency, Touko falls in love with a dancer, Veli “Nipa” Mäkinen (Lauri Tilkanen), but they are forced to hide their relationship.
Veli encourages Touko to show people his work, and so his drawings end
up taking him to Los Angeles via Berlin. In L.A. Touko finds an appreciative audience for his art with the help of his friends. Penned under the name ‘Tom of Finland’, the illustrations become wildly popular and spark a revolution.
Tom of Finland is an epic story about a man called Touko Laaksonen and the artist known as Tom of Finland.
Tom of Finland the film is part of 2017’s centennial program celebrating Finnish independence.
Direction: Dome Karukoski
Script: Aleksi Bardy
Production: Aleksi Bardy, Annika Sucksdorff, Miia Haavisto, Aleksi Bardy
Cinematography: Lasse Frank
Editing: Harri Ylönen
Production Design: Christian Olander
Costume Design: Anna Vilppunen
Make-Up: Lars Carlsson, Johanna Eliason
Sound: Niklas Skarp, Christian Holm
Original Score: Hildur Guðnadóttir, Lasse Enersen
Cast: Pekka Strang, Lauri Tilkanen, Jessica Grabowsky
Original Title: TOM OF FINLAND
Original Languages: English, Finnish, German
Film Production Countries: Finland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark
Website: www.tof.fi/en
Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/tomoffinlandmovie
Statement of the Director/s
Touko Laaksonen lived during a time when social laws and norms tried to deny him the right to act as his true self. He and the film are a testament to how one person alone can change the world, armed with only the tools of an artist. It is a portrait of an esteemed artist, in addition to a love story among all the other themes. Touko Laaksonen lived a truly incredible life, and it is to be shared with the entire world.
Biography of the Director/s
Dome Karukoski is one of Finland’s most acclaimed film directors. In 2013, Variety named him one of the Top 10 Directors to Watch. All his films have been both critical and commercial successes. Six of Karukoski’s feature lms have garnered a total of 33 Jussi Awards, Finland’s premier film prize. He has been nominated for the Best Director Jussi for each of his films.
Karukoski has been awarded with the Jussi for Best Director for his films The Home of Dark Butter ies and Lapland Odyssey. Three of his films have received the Audience Jussi Award. Karukoski’s films have amassed numerous international accolades and his lms have been sold to every continent.
Filmography of the Director/s
2017 Tom of Finland 96min.
2014 The Grump (Fin title. Mielensäpahoittaja), Solar Films, 99 min.
2013 Heart of a Lion (Leijonasydän), Helsinki-Filmi 104 min.
2010 Lapland Odyssey (Napapiirin sankarit), Helsinki-filmi 96 min.
2009 Forbidden fruit ( Kielletty hedelmä), Helsinki-filmi 104 min.
2008 The Home of Dark Butterflies (Tummien perhosten koti) Solar Films 108 min. 2005 Beauty and the Bastard (orig. title Tyttö, sinä olet tähti), Helsinki-filmi 102 min.
Awards Won
- Jussi Awards (Lappland Odyssey, The Home of Dark Butterflies)
- Göteborg Film Festival: Fipresci Award (Tom of Finland)
- Palm Springs International Film Festival: Directors to Watch (Heart of a Lion)
- Giffoni Film Festival: Golden Gryphon (Burungo)
- Alpe d’Huez International Comedy Film Festival: Grand Prix (Lappland Odyssey)
World Sales:
Protagonist Pictures
Bridget Pedgrift
42-48 Great Portland Street
London, W1W 7NB, United Kingdom
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +44 207 734 9000
Website: http://www.protagonistpictures.com/
Press:
Helsinki-filmi Oy
Annika Sucksdorff
Korkeavuorenkatu 25 A 1
Helsinki, 00130, Finland
E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: +358 50 596 8089
Website: http://www.helsinkifilmi.fi/
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