A recent Netflix movie release caused one of those Twitter-tempests in a teacup. The movie in question is 365 Days – poised on the wafer-thin plot of a mafia boss falling for and kidnapping the woman who is the object of his affection/obsession. The woman is then ‘given’ 365 days to fall in love with said mafia boss… or else? We don’t know. Firstly, let me state clearly that the movie is quite trashy and seems to be an elaborate excuse to string together some softcore porn exceedingly steamy scenes. So why is it problematic? For several reasons:
Like I said, there isn't much of a story. As for plausibility, well that’s quite absent as well.
The actor who plays the protagonist in the film is undeniably smoking hot. Many are watching the film for this one reason and this one reason only.
The movie is explicit.
The ‘hero’ Massimo keeps referring to the ‘heroine’ Laura as baby girl. Quite honestly, that makes one gag at the undisguised infantalising of a grown woman. Remember Kabir Singh? The two movies have that in common.
The leading woman in film is shown as having absolutely no agency or control over her own life. In spite of being drugged, kidnapped, held prisoner and having every decision made for her, she is shown as falling in love with her captor. I know that many dig this, but like I said, Ugh!
Many were reminded of 50 Shades of Grey because of the explicit scenes in 356 Days. There is even some bondage thrown in for good measure.
Those who have watched both movies say that 365 Days is actually worse because it has even less of a plot.
This is the review of the film in a nutshell.
The abusive behaviour of a man towards the woman he claims to love is weird, to say the least. All this in the name of passion? And abusive behaviour is attractive and irresistible? Again, shades of Kabir Singh there.
All that Alpha Male stuff? It isn't thrilling or erotic or whatever the flip it was supposed to be. A woman so completely divested of her volition and choice is horrifying.
The admittedly resplendent leading man claims that he will not touch the woman he loves without her consent. And then proceeds to do exactly that. Plus he drugs her, kidnaps her, writes fake notes, takes away her laptop and phone… this is not obsessive love or uncontrollable passion. This is abuse.
It is about time movies stopped trying to romanticise abusive, controlling behaviour of men by making it seem as though this is irresistible to women. Perhaps it is time to realise that all the overbearing machismo of films like 365 Days and Kabir Singh is very, very resistible.
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