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Freetime Machos (2009) Director: Mika Ronkainen Presentation: A joyous promenade through the world of the modern male, Freetime Machos is a documentary about two best friends who play rugby for OYUS Rugby, the "third lousiest" team in the world. They struggle with their personal lives and team but nothing can stop their sense of humor. Playing rugby close to the Arctic Circle is not really what masses do. The world's second most popular sport has not attracted much attention in Finland. This doesn't stop the Oulu rugby team from enjoying their fast-paced and demanding sport, which is demanding after the matches, too. The so-called third half-time is all about getting totally wasted and plastered before returning to their families, wives, and girlfriends. Matti and Mikko are best friends. Their story highlights the clash between home and hobby. Mikko is the driving force behind the Oulu rugby team, and also the biggest mouth in the team. When the rugby season begins, Mikko's wife becomes pregnant for the fifth time. She starts working in shifts leaving less free time for Mikko. At the same time Matti's girlfriend is leaving town for the summer, and Matti is dreaming of a drunken rugby summer with his best friend. All these real characters together with the outstanding work of the Finnish filmmaker Mika Ronkainen bring us a funny and original documentary that you do not want to miss. Synopsis: Follow the members of OYUS Rugby from Northern Finland as they brag before the games, fail miserably on the field, and recover in the sauna afterwards. Their claims of stoic Northern Finnish manhood are severely tested by the realities of everyday life: Nokia's grip on their home town of Oulu, the region's unavoidable melancholy, and domestic chores such as chasing pet chinchillas. As one of them cranks up jokes about his supposed 'affair' with a teammate, a sexual ambiguity enters the narrative. |
