Summary
The erotic romantic drama film 365 Days: This Day was released in 2022. It was directed by Barbara Białowąs and Tomasz Mandes. This film is a sequel to 365 Days, released in 2020, and was based on Blanka Lipińska’s first novel in a trilogy of books. The sequel loosely follows the second book of the trilogy and carries forward the narrative of Laura Biel and Massimo Torricelli, exploring the intricacies of their passionate and perilous romance, rife with love, jealousy, betrayal, and danger.
The sequel to the film was released on Netflix on 27th April, 2022. This film continues to tell the story from the first film, but adds to the melodrama, action, and sensuality. Like the first film, the sequel keeps the eroticism intact but tries to add a hint of thriller and suspense. Opulence, extravagant lifestyles, sensual intimacy, and steamy intimacy filled with various plot twists to maintain curiosity for the viewers are the distinct features of both the film and the book.
Plot Summary
The sequel picks up right after the events of the first film with Laura, a Polish woman who fell in love with a Sicilian powerful mafia boss named Massimo, who had once kidnapped her and gave her 365 days to love him. The sequel starts with Laura and Massimo now married and glowing in their lavish lifestyle, apparently blissful and enjoying what was supposed to be their picture-perfect life.
Reality sets in when cracks begin to appear in their paradise. Massimo’s love for Laura is genuine, but Laura is burdened with tormenting secrets that he refuses to share with her, especially those that involve his underworld dealings. The strain of Massimo’s controlling nature coupled with Laura’s near-death experience from the previous film’s finale, brings a deep sense of trauma to the couple which is compounded with unyielding distrust.
The plot begins to evolve with the introduction of a new mysterious character, Nacho, a striking new gardener who starts working at their estate. Because of Massimo’s suffocating and controlling demeanor, Laura begins to suffer emotionally and everything changes when she starts feeling attracted towards Nacho and his calm, carefree nature.
Laura begins to contemplate if her marriage is worth saving after all, revealing shocking aspects of Massimo, like having a twin brother, Adriano, who is deeply embroiled in criminal activities and acts as a key antagonist in a plot against both of them. As tensions build from Massimo to Laura, Adriano collaborates with other antagonistic forces to take advantage of the couple’s marital issues.
At the same time, Laura’s secrets are being uncovered, starting with revealing Nacho’s motive. He is not just a gardener but rather the son of a rival mafia family. Regardless, he is growing more and more infatuated with Laura and it becomes more and more apparent that his feelings for her might not be completely calculated. Laura now finds herself in a mix of conflicting loyalties and feelings where she is forced to choose if she wants to fully commit to the passionate and perilous romance with Massimo, or to the emotionally sincere, if not also more tame, love from Nacho.
The climax’s proximity gives way to the culmination of the preceding events in the form of multifaceted violence and a drastic betrayal stemming from within a power struggle. The story ends in a cliffhanger with Laura sustaining injuries in the violent fight, preparing the series for a third part.
Key Cast and Characters
Anna-Maria Sieklucka as Laura Biel
Alongside other returning members, Sieklucka is continuing her role as Laura, who is still trying to manage her love-life with a man viciously associated with the criminal world. Laura has developed in this sequel. While still romanticized, she is no longer a passive character. Instead, she is a woman in search of understanding and autonomy in her life, clarity, and navigating through complex romantic and emotional turmoil.
Michele Morrone as Massimo Torricelli
Morrone is back as Massimo, the possessive and narcissistic, tormented mafia boss. His love for Laura is heavily laced with emotional violence, bordering on obsession. This film digs deeper into his vulnerabilities and secrets, exposing bits of his life drug-related responsibilities and his twin brother, Adriano. Morrone also plays Adriano, allowing him to explore darker elements of the character.
Simone Susinna as Nacho
Simone Susinna steps into the role of Nacho, a charming and attractive character who threatens to disrupt Massimo’s hold on Laura. With his character, Laura is provided with a more healthy, and less chaotic alternative. He does, however, remain enigmatic and his true intentions do not come to light until the very end.
Magdalena Lamparska as Olga
In the supporting role of Olga, Laura’s best friend, she appears less in the film, however, it still offers comic relief and an emotional anchor. Though she has reduced screen time, the friendship with Laura bestows glimpses of sunlight amidst the intense drama.
Themes and Tone
Power and Control in Relationships
A significant theme in the movie is control in relation to freedom in romantic partnerships. The first movie centered around Massimo’s control and domineering attitude, and the sequel shifts focus to the Laura’s need for self-reliance and emotional freedom.
Passion and Betrayal
The concept of destructively passionate relationships is very much present in the film. The intense physical attraction between Laura and Massimo persist, but their emotional connection grows feebler under the burden of numerous secrets and deception. The word betrayal is frequently used as characters, in all ways, cross boundaries.
Duality and Deception
The introduction of Massimo’s twin brother brings in the theme of duality such as love and obsession, betrayal, and disguise as identity. The story is driven by mistaken identities and concealed intentions, all of which heighten the erotic tension of the narrative.
Escapism and Fantasy
The film, as we have seen in its segments, aims at providing escapism. It also focuses on oversized and extravagant getaways, dressed in designer outfits, indulging in intimate relationships on a whole new level, and in this case, 365 Days: This Day, ‘Drama and Desire’ become the central theme.
Visual Style and Music
The film actively features lavish elements of Italy and Poland. The camera’s work is also of interest, especially that of Bartek Cierlik. He lights scenes in golden sun and moody shadows, which in turn depict the characters’ emotional turbulence. The frequent and extended focus on sensuality indicates that a lot is treasured physicality and less to do with dialogues.
Visual Opulence is not the only thing Italy and Poland have to offer. Their exquisite soundtracks composed of pop and R&B that, for the most part, echo in the background for romance and action scenes also stand out. Also, like in the first movie, Myn Ci, as a Singer creates songs, and by that, enhances the sensual and emotional atmosphere.
Reception and Critical Response
The viewers highly praised 365 Days: This Day. Even with the mostly negative reviews by critics, it managed to do well on Netflix. Using the storyline, fans of the original who were used to its qstqm-dipping style were able to soak up the sequel without question. The only problem critics pointed out was weak dialogues, on the nose sitcom endings, issued in a dramatic way with over bearable erotic scenes.
The film sparked conversations related to relationships such as consent and emotional abuse. Some people lauded Laura’s character arc as an attempt to reclaim agency. However, many people critiqued the film for glamorizing toxic relationships.
With the film, and the trilogy as a whole, people online really did love the film and were waiting in anticipation about the film’s release even in the face of critical backlash.
Conclusion
With the release of the “365 Days: This Day” film, Laura and Massimo’s story continues to be a mix of love and drama; with the addition of newly found romance, betrayals, and love. What the film continues to lack is realism, but makes up for it with heavy doses of distraction, lavish visuals, and steam.
The first film definitely piqued the interest of many people. However, with the sequel they decided to broaden the universe with even more characters and drama added to an already tantalizing cliffhang. The casual viewers might look at it as another romantic film, yes it is set in the backdrop of the mafia paired with over the top action. However, people now see it as true pop-culture. The film is definitely in the limelight because of the trilogy and is known for it’s blended passion and controversy.
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