An overweight boy who was a bullied at school grew up to become a beloved comedian, folk artist Jope Ruonansuu. He was a versatile entertainer, but above all an impressionist, able to imitate more than 150 characters from the ruling class. Jope's journey was a natural extension of the post-war "Rillumarei" -culture. He broke through when the monoculturalism was at its most vibrant and grew in popularity as it began to crumble. With weight loss surgery, Jope sought a healthier life, but also to shed the extra pounds and childhood traumas. After the surgery, he was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, but continued to fight, developing a number of different projects, including an anti-bullying campaign together with the President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö. The project was to culminate in a joint visit to Syväkangas school, in Jope's home town of Kemi. Jope passed away before then, but Niinistö kept his promise.
Acting
Ruonansuu's live impressions—uncanny, surgical, deeply human.
Direction
Talli balances archival gold with unflinching medical reality.
Director
Marko Talli
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
'Rillumarei' was post-war Finland's defiant working-class humor— crude, musical, anti-authoritarian. Jope was its last great practitioner.
The unfinished school visit with President Niinistö became a national moment of collective mourning—Finland's equivalent of a state funeral via elementary school assembly.
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