Movie

Tom of Finland

Dome Karukoski · 2017

Finland · fi

• gay
• art-history

Tom of Finland is a 2017 Finnish biographical drama that chronicles the life of Touko Laaksonen, the visionary artist who became known worldwide as Tom of Finland. The film traces Laaksonen’s journey from a decorated war veteran to a groundbreaking figure in queer art. Living in a society where homosexuality was criminalized, Laaksonen found an outlet in his art, creating powerful and unapologetic depictions of hypermasculine gay men that would define an era. His work offered a radical celebration of queer desire and challenged prevailing taboos, profoundly influencing LGBTQ+ culture and contributing to the global movement for gay liberation.