‘365 Days’: Is Laura Dead? What Does Netflix Film’s Ending Mean?
The streaming platform Netflix has debuted a number of highly popular films in recent years, and with the COVID-19 pandemic limiting people’s access to theatrical entertainment, more viewers than ever are turning to streaming services to get their fix. One of the biggest releases in recent weeks is the Polish film 365 Days (or 365 DNI in Polish).
The erotic thriller is making waves in a big way, and it has quickly become one of the hottest movies on the platform. With rumors of a sequel already swirling, many viewers are dissecting the film, trying to completely understand the intricate twists and turns.
What is ‘365 Days’ about?
Like many popular movies, 365 Days is actually based on a novel. It was released in Poland in February, and by June, Netflix had acquired the rights to stream the film for U.S. audiences.
The film stars Anna-Maria Sieklucka and Michele Morrone, and features supporting performances by stars like Bronisław Wrocławski and Otar Saralidze. Although the marketing for the movie plays up the erotic aspects, there are actually elements of many genres at work in 365 Days, including mob movies, romantic dramas, and even detective thrillers.
The plot has captured the imagination of the entire world. The story revolves around a young woman named Laura, who encounters a very domineering Sicilian man named Massimo. Infatuated by Laura, he kidnaps her and grants Laura 365 days to fall in love with him. If she doesn’t, he promises to set her free.
Over the course of the following weeks, the two grapple with their emerging feelings for each other, as well as the slippery crime family politics that they are both forced to navigate.
What do audiences think of ‘365 Days’?
On the surface, the plot of 365 Days bears several striking similarities to the Fifty Shades of Grey series. After all, the idea of a wealthy, dominant man subjugating and eventually falling for a young, opinionated woman is one that became wildly popular in the series by E.L. James.
And even if many readers and critics slammed Fifty Shades of Grey for the undertones and ideas presented, there’s no denying how popular the books, and the resulting movies, have become.
Fans have responded equally enthusiastically to 365 Days. On social media, viewers rave about the movie, especially the actors. Michele Morrone, who plays Massimo, has become especially popular with American audiences, and Twitter is full of images of the handsome star, and fans who claim that they would love to be given the chance to fall in love with him.
In spite of the fan love for the film, however, many critics have slammed it, calling out some of the more problematic overtones, and claiming that the movie romanticizes kidnapping.
What does the ending of ‘365 Days’ mean?
With the popularity of 365 Days sweeping the globe, many fans are wondering about a possible sequel, and hopping online to dissect story clues with other eager viewers. One of the most-discussed aspects of the film is the ending, which is certainly not the standard romantic thriller climax.
In the final moments of the movie, a pregnant Laura has finished shopping for her wedding dress with her best friend, and is returning to Massimo, driving through a tunnel. After Massimo’s right-hand man receives a startling phone call, he rushes to Massimo to notify him that there is a hit on Laura.
Viewers watch Laura’s car enter a tunnel. She’s on the phone with Massimo and is telling him she wants to chat later that night. While Massimo doesn’t know it, viewers are already privy to the fact that Laura is pregnant. Laura’s car never emerges from the tunnel and a devastated Massimo is seen falling to the ground, alluding that Laura is dead.
The final scenes show police cars and police boats in the water. While it is implied that Laura is dead, there is no evidence. The unanswered question leaves the door open for a sequel to potentially show how Laura manages to survive.
