Movies on the Verge presents “Tom of Finland”

June 21, 2018

7:30 pm

The proudly erotic drawings of artist Touko Laaksonen, known to the world as Tom of Finland, shaped the fantasies of a generation of gay men, influencing art and fashion before crossing over into the wider cultural consciousness. But who was the man behind the leather? Dome Karukoski’s stirring biopic follows his life from the trenches of WWII and repressive Finnish society of the 1950s through his struggle to get his work published in California, where he and his art were finally embraced amid the sexual revolution of the 1970s. Tom’s story is one of love, courage and perseverance, mirroring the gay liberation movement for which his leather-clad studs served as a defiant emblem.

Doors open at 7:00 pm, screening starts at 7:30 pm
82 mins
Free popcorn, cash bar

General Admission: $7
Students, Seniors (65+): $5
Verge Members: Free

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REVIEWS

“Terrific. A fascinating and fitting tribute to a true subversive gay hero.”
– Dennis Dermody, Paper Magazine

“Tom of Finland does an excellent job of illuminating one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.”
– Benjamin Sutton, Hyperallergic

“Truly breathtaking. Pekka Strang plays the title character with alternating layers of warmth, anxiety, and playfulness.”
– Emily Yoshida, Vulture

“Seeing [Tom]’s fantasies realized exponentially confirms that his erotica is timeless. Tom of Finland commemorates gay culture’s Toulouse-Lautrec.”
– Armond White, Out Magazine