Most sports biopics are centered around winners– their drive, their spirit, and their determination to beat the competition, and maybe win some glory for their respective teams, hometowns, or countries. The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki instead focuses on a Finnish boxer that lost a match. Shot in 16mm black and white film stock, writer-director Juho Kuosmanen captures the man, not the legend, in sequences that feel like decades-old memories that draws you into his story, his humble character, and the motivations that drive him, a yearning for love rather than bragging rights, trophies, and nationalistic pride. It’s such a charming twist to the genre, one that recognizes a different kind of masculinity. While Mäki might not be the world’s best boxer, this film suggests that he might be one of the happiest, forgoing an important match for a marriage that ended up lasting his lifetime.

It’s just so drastically different from the sports genre altogether– instead of music to build up the hype, the film sticks to a natural sound design; instead of bright colored lights, the film is in black and white; instead of worldwide success, Mäki ends up elsewhere. It’s nice to hear about wins and the journey it takes, but the film also proves that it’s also important to hear about what it takes to let go.