365 Days
365 DAYS (aka 365 DNI) (18)
D: Barbara Biełowas & Tomasz Mandes
Next Film / Ekipa / Future Space / TVN (Maciej Kawulski, Ewa Lewandowski & Tomasz Mandes)
Poland 2020
114 mins
“Romance”
W: Tomasz Klimala, Barbara Biełowas, Tomasz Mandes & Blanka Lipinska [based on the novel by Blanka Lipinska]
DP: Mateusz Cierlica
Ed: Marcin Drewnowski
Mus: Michel Sarapata & Mateusz Sarapata
Anna-Maria Sieklucka (Laura Biel), Michele Morrone (Massimo Torricelli), Bronislaw Wroclawski (Mario), Otar Saralidze (Domenico), Magdalena Lamparska (Olga)
Poland’s equivalent to 50 Shades Of Grey is another pathetic excuse of an erotic drama that glorifies a toxic relationship, this time romanticising Stockholm Syndrome when an Italian monster kidnaps an executive who he’s been obsessing over for several years, pledging that he’ll release her if she doesn’t develop feelings for him within a year. Classy guy.
This is just softcore porn with a bigger budget and creepy sex scenes, mostly consisting of the actresses in the cast wiping ejaculate from their mouths after simulated scenes of fellatio which go on far longer than they need to.
There’s really nothing here to be positive about, the acting is risible, the characters are all scum and the dialogue is possibly the worst in a feature film since 2003’s The Room (qv). Despite this, the film gathered enough interest on streaming service Netflix to result in a couple of sequels.
I honestly have no idea who these films appeal to, but I’m certainly not one of them.
1/10
365 DAYS: THIS DAY (aka 365 DNI: TEN DZIEŃ) (18)
D: Barbara Biełowas & Tomasz Mandes
Netflix / Epika / Open Mind One (Tomasz Mandes)
Poland 2022
109 mins
“Romance”
W: Tomasz Klimala, Barbara Biełowas, Tomasz Mandes & Blanka Lipinska [based on the novel “Ten Dzień” by Blanka Lipinska]
DP: Bartek Cierlica
Ed: Marcin Drewnowski
Mus: Dominic Buczkowski & Patryk Kumar
Anna-Maria Sieklucka (Laura Biel), Michele Morrone (Massimo Torricelli / Adriano Torricelli), Magdalena Lamparska (Olga), Otar Saralidze (Domenico), Simone Susinna (Nacho)
A continuation of the toxic “romance” between mob boss rapist, Massimo Torricelli and his victim Laura persists with this needless sequel to a film I already could have done without.
The couple are now married for some reason, as though this legitimises the kidnapping and Stockholm syndrome that occurred in the first movie.
It’s more of the same, with a deluge of insipid pop songs playing over scenes that are intended to be erotic, filmed as though they are promotional material for the Sicily tourist board.
There’s trouble in paradise though, as Massimo has no time for love when mob duties come calling, and Laura finally realised the situation she’s in is pretty messed up, simply being a trophy wife for a criminal, and things become even more twisted with the introduction of a twin brother character who was born out of thin air to try and generate interest, which I had already lost before the first act was halfway through.
There’s a third film to also mull over, which I suppose I have to watch for consistency, but I’m really not looking forward to it.
1/10
