The Next 365 Days is the third and final sequel in the miniseries trilogy that is an adaptation of Blanka Lipińska’s Novels. It is directed by Barbara Białowąs and Tomasz Mandes, film commences with the events after the end of 365 Days: This Day, in which Laura (Anna-Maria Sieklucka) after getting a gunshot shot by her opponent, Anna, has to deal with recovering. She is devastated about the dysfunction of her bond with her husband Massimo (Michele Morrone) both emotionally and physically and so tries to work things out with him.
Laura is also devastated by the after effects of what her husband put her through, but it all changes with the attempts Mr Nacho (Simone Susinna) pulls in saving her from mafia’s rage. She quickly gets attracted to him and develops emotions for him, leaving her hounded with questions of whether her appeal about Massimo is merely a joke. Each scenario developing ever so affectionately around her for her to think over, she contemplates her future.
While special effects and exquisite territories abound in The Next 365 Days, the central argument remains: who am I, what is my worth, and can love survive treachery and annihilation?
Team members:
Anna-Maria Sieklucka as Laura Biel: Laura has always been torn between her love for Massimo and the wish to be free to explore herself. Laura’s character is such with conflicting feelings and Sieklucka beautifully brings it out
Michele Morrone as Massimo Torricelli: Morrone again takes the baton from the actress, doling out as a magnetic yet always possessive mafia boss who’s entrapped in Laura’s affection.
Simone Susinna as Nacho: Unlike Massimo, who always seems calm but doesn’t truly care for Laura, Nacho’s character is the best. Susinna’s portrayal ends up complicating the “the other guy” stereotype brilliantly.
Magdalena Lamparska as Olga: Olga, a close friend to Laura is also the voice of reason as she cracks jokes and consoles Laura who is planning her wedding with a comically distressing attitude.
Otar Saralidze as Domenico: Massimo’s loyal right hand Domenico has to come to terms with his feelings for Olga with that of being in a crime syndicate.
Themes and Analysis:
Lust vs. Love:
According to the cinematic evidence presented in The Next 365 Days, all the drama revolves around Laura and her inability to differentiate between lust and love. Her initial relationship with Massimo had all the hallmarks of a relationship based on pure, raw physical activity and their intention to get married was founded on highly emotional but traumatized minds since they both went through betrayal. Likewise, Laura is in a tenuous position with Nacho in which she enjoys such a powerful emotion that she feels from the mere thought of him being together with her.
Identity and Self-Worth:
Laura’s story navigates the decision of which man to choose, but more importantly, it is about self-discovery. This serves as a tonal shift for her narrative; a near-death experience, where she appraises her decisions up until that moment, and considers whether she is being true to herself or merely spirals in a cycle of destructive love. The film emphasizes the manner in which love can distort one’s vision of oneself but also focuses on the notable fact that one should focus on self-esteem over obsessive love.
Betrayal and Trust:
Trust is the most abused element in these characters lives, and The Next 365 Days is a sequel which is concerned with the consequences of such a betrayal. Laura and Massimo are two people who are madly in love with each other but their relationships are shrouded with lies, secrets, and resentment that has remained unsaid. Will trust again come to light or will it always remain engulfed in fractures?
Freedom and Control:
The twisting texture of Laura and Massimo’s relationship constantly oscillates between strength and weakness, autonomy and submission. It is out of the deepest love that Massimo suffocates Laura with his jealousy. The film poses interesting questions regarding who should be dominant in any sort of relationship, and what should respect’s role be.
Filmwork and Aesthetics:
The Next 365 Days retains the visual beauty of its antecessors shot in stunning locations across India, Portugal and Spain. There is so much opulence in the locations that are featured in the movie, ranging from sprawling locations, extravagant houses, designer clothes and fit for fantasy wardrobes which makes the viewer attached to the story.
The chemistry on display between Laura, Massimo and Nacho in Triology is remarkable, the intimate scenes are shot with intricate sensuality bursting the virginity of the intimacy alongside the vivid reputation of the movie. Although, the series does exploit the usage of close shots to get into the emotional fragility of the characters when they are in doubt, regret or gentler.
Critical Reviews:
The Next 365 days has received negative and harsh criticism with some labeling it as a show with style but lacking substance. While the movie has maintained traits of its predecessor the emotional element of the movie has been sorely lacking round as so to fulfill the end of the trilogy.
Variety and The Guardian have claimed the pacing and the tempo of the film horrible along with storytelling holes which made the emotional value goes flat resolving the great conflict in the story. The tomato audience has rated the movie poorly while the audience of the series rated it high which tips the scales.
Audience Reception
The viewers consider the sequel to the 365 Days trilogy to be quite engaging, with the audience liking how the story of Laura and Massimo was continued and the romantic embeddings of the movie that the fans are used to viewing . Everyone thinks that it is a spectacular film and like fiction movies which are somewhat unrealistic, which is apparently why they loved it so much, however even some diehard fans of the movie were unsatisfied with the ending of the movie, which left the viewers on a cliffhanger as Laura’s ultimate decision was never revealed.
There were specific debates which were caused in the fandom, for instance the love triangle revolving Laura, Massimo, and Nacho, some fans were advocating for Laura to be independent, while others were all for the tension between Massimo and Laura. The film has again opened pandora’s box because of its portrayal of dominate and possessive relationships and how they usually disregard the importance of consent and healthy dynamics in romantic relationships.
Key Differences from the Book:
Looking at it from the perspective of Blanka Lipińska`s novel, the ending of Laura’s story was relatable, as she was completely divorced from the love triangle, but looking at the film resolution one may say that it has an ambiguous and unresolved ending, which some may seek to be good, while others may find it less appealing.
Conclusion:
The Next 365 Days (2022) is the final chapter of the 365 Days trilogy which takes a deep plunge in the waters of lust, trust, and self exploration. It is understandable how the movie remains controversial because of it’s vulgar depictions of relationships but one thing it certainly does is, narrate an engaging and thrilling story to the audience who love romantic drama.
The trilogy has undoubtedly laid it’s mark in the erotic film world regardless of its imperfections through demonstrating passionate depictions of love. The Next 365 Days contains love and danger but in a very twisted way the film romanticises the idea of love and freedom which makes it a great watch for individuals seeking an adventurous escape.
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