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Biopic about cult artist Touko Laaksonen (Pekka Strang), better known as Tom of Finland, and the events that influenced his iconic homoerotic drawings. Although he remained closeted during his early years in socially conservative Finland, he immerses himself in his art and becomes a gay icon after finding freedom in 1980s Los Angeles. Directed by Dome Karukoski. Lauri Tilkanen, Werner Daehn, and Jessica Grabowsky co-star.
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Tom of Finland (2017)
116 min
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 peace-time Helsinki rampant with persecution of the homosexual 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 inhibitions. His work – made famous by his signature ‘Tom of Finland’ – became the emblem of a generation of men and fanned the flames of a gay revolution.