The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki
MUBI | Release Date: April 21, 2017 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
83
METASCORE
Universal acclaim based on 17 Critic Reviews
Positive:
17
Mixed:
0
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
The Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyMay 22, 2016
The movie is a small marvel of impeccable craftsmanship. Read full review
100
VarietyGuy LodgeMay 22, 2016
Kuosmanen’s unassuming yet immaculate command of tone and form here would impress at any stage of his career, but it’s entirely remarkable in a first feature. Read full review
90
Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranApr 20, 2017
The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki is a lovely piece of work, a sweet, warmly observed tale overlaid with just the right amount of Scandinavian melancholy, a combination that perfectly suits its quietly engaging protagonist. Read full review
90
Screen DailySarah WardMay 22, 2016
Low-key performances by the conflicted Lahti and the radiant Airola prove the final knockout hit, with The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki at its best when it’s lingering upon the nuanced expressions on their faces, or highlighting the way their portrayals so convincingly convey their characters’ affections. Read full review
83
The A.V. ClubA.A. Dowd Apr 20, 2017
It’s more of a gently comic character sketch in boxing trunks. Read full review
80
The GuardianPeter BradshawApr 20, 2017
It is a film of immense humanity and charm: the very best kind of date movie. Read full review
80
Total FilmSimon KinnearApr 20, 2017
Shot with a retro chic, their courtship is crisp, but there’s enough grit in this Cannes prize-winner to stop it floating away. Read full review
80
The New York TimesManohla DargisApr 20, 2017
The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki deepens quietly. This is Mr. Kuosmanen’s first feature (he has directed a few shorts), and if he had any rookie jitters you wouldn’t know it. Read full review
80
Village VoiceMichael NordineApr 20, 2017
Olli Mäki isn't a knockout, but it does go the distance. Read full review
80
Time Out LondonTrevor JohnstonApr 18, 2017
It’s an authentic celebration of the timeless delights of country bike rides and skimming stones. Absolutely lovely. Read full review
80
CineVueJohn BleasdaleNov 16, 2016
A unique and beautiful boxing movie. Read full review
75
RogerEbert.comGlenn KennyApr 21, 2017
This movie won an award in the Un Certain Regard section of Cannes last year, and was also Finland’s entry for consideration for a 2016 Academy Award. For all that, I should warn some readers that this is a movie that’s laid back to what many would consider a fault. Read full review
75
Entertainment WeeklyChris NashawatyApr 20, 2017
It’s the quiet, simple moments between Olli and Raija that stick with you, whether he’s giving her a ride on the handlebars of his bicycle on their way to a country wedding or skipping stones across the smooth surface of a lake. Read full review
75
Slant MagazineCarson LundApr 16, 2017
This is a sports tale in which the character building has almost nothing to do with the sport. Read full review
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Brad WheelerApr 13, 2017
As for the winner and new champion, it has to be Kuosmanen, who never met a boxing-film cliché he couldn’t discreetly avoid. Read full review
75
The Film StageMichael SnydelNov 16, 2016
It finds a poetically understated ending, but the drama, especially near the end, borders on being too repetitive. Still, it’s a worthwhile showcase for excellent performances, assured direction, and a twist on the sports story that prioritizes character before history. Read full review
75
The PlaylistBradley WarrenJun 1, 2016
Although “Olli Mäki” ostensibly belongs to the boxing film genre as much as it is functions as a romantic drama, it never seems truly invested in the underdog narrative of its title character. Read full review
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