Introduction
“365 Days: This Day” is a Polish Romantic film released in 2022 by directors Barbara Białowąs and Tomasz Mandes. It is a sequel to the 2020 film 365 Days which went viral and controversial due to its explicit content, the themes of power and consent in the relationship of the mafia boss and the kidnapped woman, and the depiction of a dangerous romance.
The story is based on Blanka Lipińska’s book series. She also co-wrote the screenplay. This Day is based on the rest of story left in the previous film. It continues the relationship between Massimo and Laura, now married but the relationship is still quite unstable. Like the previous film, this film still mixes erotic fantasies with crime-thriller elements, but the visuals still maintain a striking high gloss polish.
Plot Summary
The story begins with Laura Biel and Massimo Torricelli now newly married couple. Torricelli, a compon of Bial’s, seems to enjoy the luxurious life. Laura appears to be back in the arms of a very powerful and wealthy Sicilian mafia don.
Bang, the woman begins to live a life full of the dreams and desires a mafia don’s wife gets from her husband. But, still, there are some cracks in the luxury life that keep revealing.
Laura grows increasingly dissatisfied with the sheltered life she is leading as Massimo’s wife. Although she loves him, his overprotective and jealous nature, alongside the constant peril that accompanies his criminal activities, is becoming too much. While they appear to be in an intensely sexual relationship, Laura is instead becoming emotionally distant.
Things take an even wilder turn when she meets Nacho, a handsome and mysterious man who is set to become her bodyguard. Little does she know, he harbors secrets of his own. With time, as Laura learns to trust Nacho, they become closer, and she is drawn to him emotionally as well as sexually.
Massimo, who is already facing external and internal threats, is further unmasked as having a resentful twin named Adriano who aligns himself with Massimo’s enemies. This unmasking adds to the confusion and tension of the final act of the film.
With Laura in the center of the triangle of conflict formed with the two dangerous men – the controlling Massimo and the mysterious Nacho – her loyalties shift alongside fresh betrayals and she is put in peril. For the climactic violent showdown, Laura is put in the crosshairs of mortality once again and the film finishes in a suspenseful way, paving the way for the third installment of the series.
Cast and Characters
Anna-Maria Sieklucka as Laura Biel
Sieklucka is back in the starring role as a woman caught in turmoil between love and desire, struggling for independence. Balancing her performance and walk the line between vulnerability and empowerment. some critics argue the writing offers the performance too much ambiguity and critics discuss whether the writing offers real depth.
Michele Morrone as Massimo Torricelli
Morrone reprises his role as the brooding, hypermasculine mafia boss. Massimo Torricelli is still a fantasy figure and still a problematic representation of how men dominate in relationships. Morrone brings physical intensity to the role, often relying on presence instead of dialogue.
Simone Susinna as Nacho
The newcomer to the series, Susinna plays Nacho with a seductive quietness. He offers a contrast with Massimo as he is softer, but paradoxically just as dangerous. With his rise to fan-favorite, there is some reprieve for any audiences sick of Massimo’s controlling demeanor.
Otar Saralidze, Magdalena Lamparska, and Ewa Kasprzyk return in supporting roles, but the spotlight is still on the main three.
Direction, Visuals, and Soundtrack
Following the same team that directed the first film, 365 Days: This Day keeps the high-gloss visual style that helped the original gain its cult following. The film is filled with sweeping drone shots of mansions, yachts, and designer interiors. It serves as a luxury travelogue as much as a narrative film.
While the cinematography is polished, it is heavily stylized, resembling a perfume commercial or music video. During the many erotic sequences, color grading and lighting enhance the mood.
As with the previous film in the trilogy, the music serves as a central focus. Nearly every scene features dramatic pop ballads or sensual music. Often, music replaces dialogue and enhances the action.
Main Ideas
- Power and Control
The overarching theme of the film remains to be power: who has it, how it is used, the shifts that occur. Massimo’s relationship with Laura is marked with control masquerading as protection. Laura’s emotional discomfort with the dynamic becomes the emotional thread of the film.
Desire vs Autonomy
In the sequel, Laura’s internal struggle between wanting Massimo and wanting freedom to be her own person is a lot clearer. Moreover, Laura’s sense of agency is further complicated by the introduction of Nacho, which also challenges her loyalty and self-understanding.
Fantasy and Danger
This Day, as well as the first film, operates under a heightened sense of fantasy. The wealth, the danger, the passion—it’s all part of an escapist narrative, albeit one straddling thin ice as it romanticizes toxic behaviors.
Reception and Criticism
Like the first installment, 365 Days: This Day was released to brutal reception from critics. Professional reviewers tore the film apart for its lack of plot, wooden performances, and reliance on sex. Meanwhile, the audience for the film was and still is madly in love with it, much like the first film. The lack of character development and the masterpiece glamorization of an abusive relationship is the icing on the cake for the fans.
With the sequel, fans were quick to praise it for offering what was expected: an erotic fantasy with unexpected, dramatic plot twists and lavish visuals abound. The sole addition of Nacho had taken an unexpected turn, offering viewers a secondary romantic fantasy through the lens of a more alternative love interest compared to the domineering and possessive Massimo.
The ending of the film generated discussions that fueled attention for the next part of the film that was released in 2022. Both speculations and expectation continued to rise.
Conclusion
This Day is not a film that seeks critical approval. It is a fantasy– an enticing, dramatic, and disputable one. For the people the film is intended, it provides an ample amount of escapism, sex appeal, and emotional turbulence. For the rest, it raises the concern on how family love romance is portrayed in modern romance media.
The film further provides the romance genre with a new definition. People may wither love it or hate it, but it has successfully gained attention as a center of discussion around the world. Be it viewed as a reckless and shallow film, or overperformed wired romance, it is in the center of attention showing that love and driven storytelling is a necessity, even in unproblematic situations.
The film further encourages the audience to continue the story of the lead role.
Watch free movies on Fmovies