"365 Days: This Day," the 2022 sequel to the polarizing film "365 Days," is a provocative journey into the tangled affairs of love, power, and deception. Directed by Barbara Białowąs and Tomasz Mandes, this erotic thriller unfolds as an adaptation of the second book in Blanka Lipińska's trilogy. The film's narrative, rich in multiple languages including Polish, English, Italian, and Spanish, intricately weaves the volatile romance of Laura (Anna-Maria Sieklucka) and Massimo (Michele Morrone), plunging the viewer into a world where passion and peril walk hand in hand.
The movie resumes from the cliffhanger in "365 Days," revealing Laura's survival from a car accident, a tragedy that leads to the loss of her pregnancy. The plot thickens as Laura, now Massimo's wife, navigates the complexities of married life. This new chapter in their relationship is overshadowed by Laura's struggle for autonomy and identity, a battle intensified by Massimo's domineering nature and the confining realities of life married to a Mafia boss. The tension escalates as Laura discovers unsettling secrets about Massimo, including the existence of his twin brother, Adriano, which further strains their marriage.
In this labyrinth of emotional turmoil, Laura encounters Nacho, a gardener with more beneath the surface than meets the eye. This character introduces Laura to a possibility of a new life, one where her choices and freedom are at the forefront. However, this seemingly fresh start is tainted by the revelation of Nacho's ties to the mafia, his family being adversaries of Massimo's. This twist adds another layer to the film's intricate narrative, as Laura confronts the reality of being a pawn in a larger mafia rivalry.
The plot reaches a crescendo with a significant twist: the betrayal that Laura believes Massimo committed is revealed to have been orchestrated by his twin brother, Adriano. This surprising development unites Massimo and Nacho in a quest to protect Laura, intertwining their fates in the high-stakes world of mafia conflict.
"365 Days: This Day" delves deep into the themes of control, manipulation, and the illusion of freedom within toxic relationships. The film portrays the glamorous, yet suffocating existence entwined with the mafia, underscoring the challenges of self-discovery and agency against such a backdrop. Despite its ambitious thematic exploration, the film has been met with criticism for its portrayal of relationships, reliance on eroticism, and a narrative deemed incoherent by many critics. These aspects have stirred debate and critique, highlighting the complexity and controversy inherent in the film's depiction of love and power dynamics.
