365 Days is a 2020 erotic drama film directed by Barbara Białowąs and Tomasz Mandes. The movie is based on Blanka Lipińska’s novel 365 dni and stars Michele Morrone and Anna-Maria Sieklucka in lead roles. The movie follows the love story of Massimo, a Sicilian Mafioso, and Laura, a Polish tourist, who is kidnapped and given 365 days to fall in love with him.
The film's premise is controversial and has been heavily criticized by many for glorifying kidnapping and Stockholm Syndrome. Throughout most of the 116 minute runtime, the movie tries to tell a love story between Massimo and Laura, but in the end, it comes off as a problematic, male-dominated narrative with shallow acting and uninspired direction.
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The story begins with a lifeless Laura, who seems to be stuck in a loveless relationship with her boyfriend Martin. The couple spends their vacation in Sicily, where after a forced encounter with Massimo, Laura is eventually kidnapped by his henchmen and given 365 days to fall in love with him.
The film's first half is mostly spent on the development of Laura and Massimo's relationship. Massimo plays the role of a seductive lover, with looks and charm for days, while Laura plays the helpless victim with little to no agency. The two lead actors, Morrone and Sieklucka, showcase a lack of chemistry and fail to deliver any authenticity to their roles. The direction is amateurish and uninspired, failing to add any depth to their characters. The film's energy is entirely concentrated on shots of Massimo's chiseled body and designer outfits, making it look like an attempt to sell a male-sex symbol more than anything else.
The film's soundtrack is one of the few saving graces of this movie. The background music features a mix of well-curated pop and Italian music that sets the right tone. It's the only element keeping the film watchable.
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The film does manage to build up some tension as the plot unfolds, and the characters find themselves in situations that put their lives at stake. The climax is one of the few moments that evoke emotion, but it's short-lived as the story jumps into a bizarre and inappropriate ending. The movie's final scenes showcase a problematic message that women can only find happiness with their alpha-male saviors.
The relationship between Massimo and Laura is troubling as there is no clear sign of consent. Laura is torn between her desires and the realization that her love story is rooted in a toxic situation. The film fails to scrutinize or question the forceful nature of their relationship, making it a tiresome watch.
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All in all, 365 Days is a poorly executed film that tries to showcase a toxic love story. The lead performers are sub-par, with little to no chemistry, and the direction fails to add any depth or emotional meaning to the story. The movie glorifies kidnapping and contributes to rape culture, making it a dangerous message for viewers. If you're looking for a romantic film with a strong lead female character and a healthy relationship, this is definitely not the movie for you.
In summary, although the film tries to mix romance and danger, it fails to come through in any meaningful or enjoyable way. The filmmakers nothing more than exploiting a base desire to watch escapist fantasy and come up woefully short on delivery. 365 Days is an indictment against the current state of the movie industry and utterly regrettable in every sense.
