Tom of Finland

THE GIST: After serving in World War II, a decorated officer finds life in peacetime just as harrowing because of the rampant persecution of homosexuality that forces him to stay in the closet. He finds solace and escape in his art, drawing highly stylized muscular men in homoerotic situations. He signs his work as Tom of Finland, and eventually it makes its way to the USA, where it takes on a life of its own, emboldening a generation of gay men to feel pride in themselves and live more openly and boldly than ever before.

Tom of Finland is a well-written biographical exploration of the life of Touko Valio Laaksonen, widely known as Tom of Finland, whose original artwork is simply stunning.

The cast of (to us) unknowns is excellent.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you know his art, watch this movie. If not, watch it and then discover his art. It's amazing.

Grade: 7.5