Illustrator Touko Laaksonen was known for the unabashed, highly-masculinized homoerotic art that he drew under the name Tom of Finland. This biopic follows his life from WWII to his worldwide success in the latter half of the 20th century. He struggled for many years with his country’s repressive laws, frequenting parks for sexual connection. The narrative follows a predictable path with occasional flashbacks to significant memories and mild flights of fantasy with one iconic leather-clad stud. Considering the personal adversity he faced, there’s not much emotional connection. Still, those who might appreciate this story will find it full of information. BTW, even though lust pervades the subtext, the sex is more explicit in his drawings than what’s portrayed among the film’s characters. (Finnish and English with subtitles) Streaming on Amazon, Hulu and iTunes
(3 / 5)