Directed by:
Aleksi MäkeläScreenplay:
Marko LeinoCinematography:
Pini HellstedtComposer:
Tuomas KantelinenCast:
Jasper Pääkkönen, Elina Hietala, Juha Veijonen, Peter Franzén, Elina Knihtilä, Kari Hietalahti, Jope Ruonansuu, Jani Volanen, Jussi Lampi, Toni Wahlström (more)Plots(1)
Matti is a fictionalized drama about a man who loves ski-jumping so much that he rises to the top of his game and becomes the best in the world. But the fact that he jumps like an eagle flies, does not mean that he cannot crash-land in everyday life. Matti stumbles, falls and hurts himself time after time but miraculously struggles back to his feet after every episode – and soon is ready for another foolhardy and pre-doomed leap.
The movie cruises back and forth in time from the mid-eighties to present day. At the peak of his career the ski-jumper is transformed into an entertainment artist and the publicity spotlight illuminates the underside of his public role more and more frequently. The Matti of the movie provides a commentary on his own life but the format does not offer him the benefit of hindsight – so spectators can form their own opinions about Matti's trajectory over time. The road from nationally adulated athlete to grubby tabloid regular is basically a tragic story. But not even the real Matti Nykänen himself can – or will – deny the comic aspects of his various mishaps. "I have often hoped that I could be a normal John Doe – and that people would treat me as one. But I guess that I set my goals above average in my athletic life. And I guess I will have to see out that role to the end." (Matti Nykänen)
As a ski-jumper, Matti Nykänen won everything possible during his career – and more: four Olympic gold medals, seven World Championship titles, four World Cup tour championships and 46 individual World Cup circuit victories. Because of his unbeaten athletic achievements, Nykänen became a revered hero world-wide, and one whose scandalous escapades in both his private and professional lives were hushed up for a long time. Only after his athletic career came to an end, the other side of the hero emerged into public view in all of its vulgarity: an alcohol dependency, repeated marital problems, petty crime, uncontrolled acts of violence with knives and fists, money hungry hangers-on... Wherever Matti Nykänen roams, drama and catastrophe dog his tracks. And everything is there in the headlines the following day. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Jasper Pääkkönen](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/393/166393091_74ee68.jpg)
Jasper Pääkkönen
Finland
Best movies:
Frozen Land (2005)
Heart of Lion (2013)
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
![Elina Hietala](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/793/161793071_644fc8.jpg)
Elina Hietala
Best movies:
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
21 Ways to Ruin a Marriage (2013)
![Juha Veijonen](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/280/280833_0e4fe6.jpg)
Juha Veijonen
Finland
Best movies:
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
Upswing (2003)
Bad Boys (2003)
![Peter Franzén](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/273/273838_4e9a3f.jpg)
Peter Franzén
Finland
Best movies:
Purge (2012)
Heart of Lion (2013)
Ailo's Journey (2018) - narrator
![Elina Knihtilä](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/255/162255384_e316fb.jpg)
Elina Knihtilä
Finland
Best movies:
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
The Other Side of Hope (2017)
False Trail (2011)
![Kari Hietalahti](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/305/158305734_5e4ff1.jpg)
Kari Hietalahti
Finland
Best movies:
Promise (2005)
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
Void (2018)
![Jope Ruonansuu](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/296/158296552_481b7c.jpg)
Jope Ruonansuu
Finland
Best movies:
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
The Dissidents (2017)
![Jani Volanen](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/161/159161978_531fd2.jpg)
Jani Volanen
Finland
Best movies:
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
Dogs Don't Wear Pants (2019)
Ladies of Steel (2020)
![Jussi Lampi](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/309/158309789_47accc.jpg)
Jussi Lampi
Finland
Best movies:
Popular Music (2004)
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
The Flight Before Christmas (2008)
![Toni Wahlström](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/384/159384611_6ba2aa.jpg)
Toni Wahlström
Best movies:
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
The Matriarch (2007)
Matias Hangasmaa
Best movies:
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
![Seppo Pääkkönen](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/636/158636345_d2183a.jpg)
Seppo Pääkkönen
Finland
Best movies:
Unknown Soldier (2017)
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
Run Sister Run! (2010)
![Maija Junno](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/248/159248662_c05100.jpg)
Maija Junno
Finland
Best movies:
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
![Matti Onnismaa](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/287/159287033_daed6b.jpg)
Matti Onnismaa
Finland
Best movies:
Drifting Clouds (1996)
Promise (2005)
Fallen Leaves (2023)
Jarmo Perälä
Best movies:
Frozen Land (2005)
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
The Dissidents (2017)
![Andreas af Enehjelm](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/298/160298533_b12935.jpg)
Andreas af Enehjelm
Finland
Best movies:
Popular Music (2004)
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
East of Sweden (2018)
![Teemu Aromaa](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/568/158568019_32314c.jpg)
Teemu Aromaa
Finland
Best movies:
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
Bad Boys (2003)
The Two and Only (2013)
![Pekka Laiho](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/296/158296433_827a52.jpg)
Pekka Laiho
Finland
Best movies:
Shadows in Paradise (1986)
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
![Turkka Mastomäki](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/482/159482876_e0e59b.jpg)
Turkka Mastomäki
Finland
Best movies:
Promise (2005)
Unknown Soldier (2017)
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
![Pekka Huotari](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/809/158809081_51dcd0.jpg)
Pekka Huotari
Best movies:
Promise (2005)
Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006)
Ambush (1999)