Tom of Finland

Dude was an incredible artist

...if you appreciate the masculine, muscular male figure -- you're a Tom Man.My Opinion of The Film; first off, *most* dialogue is spoken in the Finnish language with some English but if you don't speak/understand Finnish it's English sub-titled and that didn't make it difficult to follow. If you want to watch a biography about the legend there's a good chance that you'll really enjoy it. I've read a couple reviews calling it "slow, tedious, boring"... IT'S A BIO-PIC! You're not going to get continuous sex scenes, it's an honest history about the best (I. M. O.), most ripped-off (unfortunately, factual!) male erotic artist of the 20th century.My Philosophy; This film brought back so many different memories, both good & bad about how I grew into manhood... the discriminations are world-wide. I came of age around the years that "Tom" arrived in America. While I've never been or aspired to be a replica of Tom of Finland's subjects, I did need positive role models and as stated by those that continue to run Tom House in Los Angeles; ...the love, realness and authenticity of his art show that his subjects aren't "fly-by-night" hookups they are men that love and care for other men. Empower yourself, if you are in an environment that tries to knock you down for your lifestyle, change it! Be happy in your skin. Make those in your family feel as ease and accepted, be it blood family or chosen family.Enjoy!

If you know Tom of Finland's work, you will be fascinated how it all came to be. This dramatic bio-pic follows the artist from WWII Finnish soldier to the underground European gay scene, and on to international fame in the gay art movement. It was a tough road as many people looked at the erotic art as filth (no surprise there) and others wanted to see and buy more. Sadly, much of his original art was stolen along the way.His exaggerated macho leather-clad men became a model to which leather men around the world aspired. Some of the funny parts in the film show the living actors right off the pages of his books. It was San Francisco in the late '70s that welcomed him as a "star" at an international leather convention. He achieved worldwide recognition as a result.Film focuses on the guy who created a look that some stupidly say in the film led to the widespread epidemic of AIDS in the '80s. From JO magazines to coffee table books, Tom of Finland gave us a fantasy look at the world of gay machismo.Perhaps one drawback is the relative lack of screen time spent looking at the drawings themselves. I know it's about the man, but the art is inextricably linked to that man. I feel younger people, with no idea about Tom of Finland, wouldn't get the full effect his art had on its viewers.Worth seeing.

This is a fine European art film in the Bergman/Strindberg dramatic tradition. If you don't have a background in that kind of film or play, though, you might find it hard to watch. The emphasis is not on Touko's relationship with the gay male leather community (for that, see "Daddy and the Muscle Academy"), but on his early adult years during and after World War II, when he imprinted on a hypermasculine look based on PTSD from killing an enemy soldier and being arrested for furtive sex with strangers. It was not the strangers he imprinted on but the policemen who arrested him. His anxiety, alienation, and loneliness were translated by his art into a fantasy utopia of super studs getting it on. The performances are tops in this film, and Touko's relationship with his sister emerges clearly. After the repressions of northern Europe, his trip to California is like going to heaven. The film makes clear that it was his drawings that planted the seeds for the men who decided to live out the fantasies he created in his artwork. If you haven't seen European art films before but are interested in this material, I still recommend this film--just forget Hollywood pacing and give yourself over to this man's life story. It's superbly done.

Knowing "Tom of Finland" as an iconic gay artist, I was anxious to see this film to learn more about Touko Laaksonen,, the man behind the legend. This film focuses primarily on the development of the artist and his art rather than the man himself. I had previously heard and read differing accounts about his military service during World War II and was particularly interested in learning more about that. Sadly, other than showing he was in the military, there was little additional insight. I did learn more than I knew about Touko's development into the artist many of us know today.

It's a dark story because of the war trauma and homophobia, but Tom of Finland is a big part of 70s gay culture, so it's an important story to know.

I absolutely adored this film! I watched it a good few times back to back to fully absorb the story, characters, and rich visuals. I’m definitely going to watch again soon. A must see for any LGBT history buff or if you’re an LGBT cartoonist like me :)

Why does this movie only have 4 other reviews? Rent or Buy, you will not be displeased. At its core, this movie is about a man's heart with his loves and struggles. This movie also illustrates how much things have changed for the better (still much more work to do) and Tom of Finland was at least in part aiding in the struggle. But it is Tom the person or "Touko" that is most interesting. His life in the Finnish Military serving during WWII and the pivotial tragic incident that was the source/inspiration of one of his strongest and most persistent male icons. Beautifully bittersweet.

Soy muy fan de Tom of Finland, siento que la película es algo lenta.No es muy buena a mi parecer.

1980年代半ばアタリから、サブカル関係の書籍のそこかしこで見かけるようになってきた、鉛筆と思しき細密なタッチで描き出された、筋骨隆々なカラダにレザーを纏ったオトコたちのイラスト。お恥ずかしながら,この映画を見るまでソレがどんな経緯で、どんなヒトによって描かれてきたのか知る由もなかった。トウコ・ラークソネン＝フィンランドのトム同性愛が禁じられ、厳しく罰せられていた第2次大戦直後のフィンランドで帰還兵トウコが人知れず描き始めた“秘画”がやがて世界をも飲み込む一大ムーブメントに。Import品のため、英語字幕による鑑賞とはなりましたが伝記映画である点など、アタマに入っていたこともありナントカお話を追いかけることができ、鑑賞前にイメージしえなかった真摯なドラマの片鱗ではアリますが感じ取れたのが嬉しかったです。日本語字幕つきの国内版リリースの際は再び鑑賞してみたいです。

Llego en tiempo establecido

Dieser Film iost (Nicht nur) für Freunde der "Tom of Finland" Artikel und der damit verbundenen Geschichte wärmstens zu empfehlen. Die Geschichte von Anfang an ist einfach nur liebenswert. Dieser Film wird wirklich keine Sekunde langweilig. Jetzt schon ein Kultfilm

Meine Bestellung war ruck zuck da. Für Gays und Lederliebhaber, sowie Fans der Zeichnungen ist der Tom of Finland Film ein absolutes muss. Der Film zeichnet die Lebensgeschichte des Schöpfers der Zeichnungen und viele begebenheiten zur damaligen Zeit, zum Beispiel Leiben als Schwuler in den Nachkriegsjahren, Gründung der ersten Lederclubs, die Aidskrise in den achtzigern und Umgang mit schweren Verlusten nach. In vielen Szenen hat man überaus viel Detailverliebtheit bei der Umsetzung eingebracht. Fakt: Sehenswert.