A little cosy given the salacious subject matter, but competently made.
An intriguing demonstration of how eroticism in gay culture became overt, while straight porn retains its furtiveness and hiddenness.
Having taken such pains to establish Tom’s Finnish background and its attendant dangers, Karukoski hurtles through the sketchy American section without exploring any of its crucial issues in sufficient depth.
There’s nothing coy about the film, which also feels like an honest reflection of the way the Laaksonen’s legacy has been embraced by the Finnish government as an important part of the country’s cultural heritage.
Pekka Strang gives a fine performance as Touko Laaksonen, whose leather-wearing fantasy men were an inspiration for generations to come.
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