The Hypnotist

Captivating documentary about the famous Finnish hypnotist Olavi Hakasola, better known as Olliver Hawk. In the sixties and seventies he charmed and hypnotized the whole nation. He sold out thousands of hypnosis-shows, ran a successful private practice and cultivated his celebrity status, although he was unable to maintain meaningful and loving relationships in life. His insatiable drive for political power and success ultimately led to his downfall. In 1980 he gets accused of fraude. In the dark corridors of power, with a nation's destiny at stake, an eccentric showman sitting on too many secrets is considered a liability. A surprising film about power, truth and myths in Cold War Finland. Was Hawk an eccentric charlatan, a misunderstood genius that was framed for political reasons, or perhaps both?