
Anoverweightboywhowasabulliedatschoolgrewuptobecomeabelovedcomedian,folkartistJopeRuonansuu.Hewasaversatileentertainer,butaboveallanimpressionist,abletoimitatemorethan150charactersfromtherulingclass.Jope'sjourneywasanaturalextensionofthepost-war"Rillumarei"-culture.Hebrokethroughwhenthemonoculturalismwasatitsmostvibrantandgrewinpopularityasitbegantocrumble.Withweightlosssurgery,Jopesoughtahealthierlife,butalsotoshedtheextrapoundsandchildhoodtraumas.Afterthesurgery,hewasdiagnosedwithoesophagealcancer,butcontinuedtofight,developinganumberofdifferentprojects,includingananti-bullyingcampaigntogetherwiththePresidentofFinland,SauliNiinistö.TheprojectwastoculminateinajointvisittoSyväkangasschool,inJope'shometownofKemi.Jopepassedawaybeforethen,butNiinistökepthispromise