The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki

THE HAPPIEST DAY

IN THE LIFE OF OLLI MAKI

Use the choke.

It's the knob between the seats.

Give it a little gas.

Can you reach?

Let's try something different.

Maybe this will work.

Everything's all right.

Let me take you out.

Thank you.

Don't get upset now.

Where are your parents?

Hi.

You must be Olli.

- Yes.

Where's Raija?

- She's inside.

Right.

Hello.

- Oh hello.

Oh hello.

- Hi.

Going somewhere?

- To the wedding.

What wedding?

What wedding?

Are you going dressed like that?

- I don't know.

Are they big?

- Yeah, a little in the front.

Let me put newspaper in them.

I heard your manager

is so full of himself -

that he put you

in the featherweight class -

because he didn't want you

in the same class -

he used to box in.

- Elis is a good guy.

Are you riding with us?

- No, in Olli's car. - Yes.

Use the choke.

It won't start.

- Try again.

Can you manage?

"If I speak in the tongues of men

or of angels, -

but do not have love..."

I heard they put you

in the bantam weight class.

No, I'm in the featherweight class.

Featherweight? Are they

lighter than bantam weight?

No, they're heavier. 57 kilos.

How much do you weigh now?

- What?

How much do you weigh now?

- A little over 60.

Isn't there a class between them?

- Bantam would be.

No, lightweight is between them.

How much do the bantams weigh?

- 53.5. They're very light.

Feathers are heavier than bantams?

Makes no sense.

Why aren't you competing in

the lightweight class? - Well...

Be quiet, kids.

Good luck.

"...faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love."

Youth is the happiest time,

a truly blessed thing

Filled with joy and longing

in a seemingly endless spring

What are you doing?

- Trying to catch the fly.

Drink the milk up so we can

catch the fly with the glass.

Good job. Can I please have it?

Thank you.

What are we going to do with it?

- Let's kill it.

Let's release it.

- Let's eat it.

Shall we release it?

- Yes.

Let's eat it.

- It's gone.

Here you are.

Hi.

Yes. Dear guests

and the bride and groom.

I remember when you, Tuula,

were born.

It was a beautiful spring morning.

Love seems to be a serious thing.

The sun was shining,

and it was a bit cloudy.

It wasn't raining.

Olli. Olli, look.

All right.

The world champion has arrived.

Put your bags in here. Hi.

This is Raija.

- Hello. I'm Elis.

Did the trip go well?

- Yes.

Good. Please step in the car.

There's a boxing boom now.

Some people have been

asking me about the match.

That's good.

They'll come to the match.

I've been sparring

in the outdoor dance pavilion.

Outside? - Yeah, because

the match will be outside.

Damn good, as we'll be practicing

at the outdoor swimming pool.

Who are these people in the photos?

- That's Rocky Marciano.

Sure you know him?

One of the greatest.

He's got his own restaurant now.

Excellent food. We ate there.

You know who that is?

- No.

You have to know.

Sure you know. It's Frankie.

Frankie boy. Frank Sinatra.

We're friends. I took the photo.

- Right. That's something.

Who made this?

- Olli, you know what it is?

That's you when you won

the European Championship? - Yes.

I won the gold in 1951.

I fought Pierre Montan and won.

I knocked him out

in the last round.

That was the best day of my life.

Oh, it's Laila and the kids.

Hi.

The guests have arrived already.

Hi.

- This is Raija.

Take the sweater off.

Hi, I'm Raija.

- Hi.

Could you make the beds for them?

Will you be staying here or

somewhere else? - I'll stay here.

All right. Please make the beds

for them in the kids' room.

Why there?

I wasn't expecting

him to bring anyone.

Make the beds in the kids' room,

all right?

I'll show you the way.

Not that there's much to show.

Hi.

- Hi. Is this your room?

Yes.

- Now you have to be evacuated.

That's okay.

Which one of you will sleep here?

- Me.

Wow. - Okay, let's let

our guests settle in here.

C'mon, kids. Go on.

Come see us later.

Is it sturdy enough

for your weight? - C'mon!

Who's the fatso here?

Welcome, everyone.

- Thank you.

Please be seated.

If you run out of seats, you can

stand by the door or back wall.

I'm sure there's room for everyone.

Why don't we get started

little by little.

Thank you for coming.

Can you make room for me?

Could you move a little?

All right.

On August 17th, we'll make

Finnish sports history.

That's when Olli Maki,

"The Baker of Kokkola," -

will meet Davey Moore,

the current world champion.

The night is organized

by Askin Talli.

We promise you

it'll be a spectacle -

like none other

you've ever seen in Finland.

No one has even dared

to dream about something like this.

You don't have to go all the way

to America to see a great show.

We're bringing America here.

This is your first time competing

in the featherweight class.

How do you think

it'll affect your performance?

Well... I'll be a little lighter...

But so will my opponent.

I don't know.

I guess it won't be that different.

I'm Reijo Pahkamaki from

Keskipohjanmaa newspaper.

Is Olli under 57 kilos

at the moment? - Of course not.

We have over two weeks

until the match.

Losing weight is

a normal thing for boxers.

Unlike for some.

This will be

the most important match -

in Olli's professional career.

We'll do our best to bring

the title home to Finland.

The other competitors will be...

That's it. Move your feet.

Keep your hands up.

Harder. Harder.

That's it. Good job.

Use your lead hand. Harder! Good!

Keep your hands up.

Move your feet.

Hands up. Good!

Break! Elis!

- Olli, stop.

I can't do this anymore.

Really good job.

Let's continue.

Okay.

Good job, Olli!

Good. That's it.

Good. Hit.

Good. All right.

Don't hit an old man.

Excellent job. Excellent.

Holy sh*t, Olli.

It's looking great.

This is going to be something.

You get it?

Good job. Keep up the good work.

Good job, Olli.

Hey, guys!

Guys, listen. Oh my God.

I'd like to introduce you

to two gentlemen.

These guys are going to make

a documentary about our event.

They'll film you intensely.

Everybody will be in the film.

Me too?

- Everybody.

First and foremost we'll

concentrate on Olli's journey -

to becoming the world champion

and a national hero.

No stress.

We'll try to stay out of your way

and just film you training.

Luukkonen.

Hi.

- Hello.

We're in a bit of a hurry,

so why don't we continue later.

Good.

- See you.

Good. Thank you.

Does this have a name?

- What?

Does your buddy have a name?

Elis, can you help me

with the tie?

Can someone tie his tie?

Put the tie on him.

We're ready. Please step

in front of the camera.

Let's go, GUYS-

All right then.

Tighten it a bit. Good.

Okay. Then just a hint of a smile.

Look in the camera.

Okay, try to concentrate now.

- All right.

Smile a little and...

Everybody focus now.

Here we go. Look in the camera.

And another one.

Good. Thank you.

Then we'll take

a photo of Olli and Sirpa together.

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