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VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Daddy and the Muscle Academy (1992)
QQQ
Director: Ilppo Pohjola
The influence of artist Tom of Finland's erotic drawings on gay culture is undeniable. For years, Tom's lifelike depictions of macho leather men engaged in all manner of naughty behavior has been the basis for an entire subculture of the gay community, not to mention a rite of passage for many a young gay man. This somewhat steamy documentary blends conversations with the artist and his many fans and followers with hundreds of examples of his unforgettable images. Long overdue on DVD, this doc explores Tom's early days, tracing his uniform fascination to his days as a soldier during Finland's occupation by Nazi forces during WWII . It also follows his rise to fame in the United States from a popular artist in the physique magazines of the day to the legend of gay male erotica he eventually became. There are many conversations with Tom himself, shortly before his death in 1991 at the age of 71, and the film survives as a terrific reminder of the man behind the beautiful men we all lusted after. The DVD includes a gallery of 100 images used in the film as well as interview segments that didn't make the final cut. The film is in English and Finnish with English subtitles. It's not rated, but contains graphic images of nudity and sexual activity.