Summary

The article critically examines the relationship between Laura and Massimo in the film "365 Days" as a problematic and toxic love story, highlighting issues of abuse, kidnapping, and Stockholm syndrome.

Abstract

The author of the article engages in a debate about the worst love stories in pop culture, ultimately singling out the relationship between Laura and Massimo in the film "365 Days" as the most egregious example. The film's plot, which involves kidnapping, assault, and manipulation, is scrutinized for romanticizing an abusive relationship under the guise of a 'bad boy' romance. Despite the initial hype and the film's graphic sexual content, the author argues that the story lacks fundamental elements of a healthy relationship, such as trust, respect, and consent. The article emphasizes that the portrayal of Massimo as a mafia boss who becomes obsessed with Laura and subjects her to abuse does not warrant a redemption arc, contrary to typical bad boy romance narratives. The author also expresses concern over the film's potential to trigger viewers and the irresponsible message it sends about love and abuse.

Opinions

The author believes that the "love story" of Laura and Massimo is not deserving of the term due to its foundation on kidnapping, assault, and Stockholm syndrome.
The article suggests that the film's popularity, driven by internet hype, does not justify its problematic content, which includes graphic depictions of abuse and sexual encounters.
Massimo is characterized as inherently "bad" without any redeeming qualities that would make him a sympathetic character or a candidate for a redemption arc.
The author points out that the film's portrayal of a romantic relationship is devoid of trust, respect, boundaries, and consent, which are essential components of a healthy love story.
The article criticizes the film for romanticizing abuse and potentially triggering viewers, arguing that such storytelling is not only poor narrative but also socially irresponsible.
The author expresses dismay at the film's conclusion, which hints at further toxic developments in the sequels, based on the books' continuation of the story.
The author emphasizes that the film's depiction of an abusive relationship should not be mistaken for a depiction of true love or a desirable romantic dynamic.

Thunderdome

Massimo and Laura From 365 Days is The Worst Love Story Ever

Kidnapping, abuse, assault, Stockholm syndrome… and true love?

Thunderdome is a Fanfare series where our writers good-naturedly debate some matter of pop culture and then leave it to the readers to decide. Read each post and vote at the bottom!

TW: Mentions abuse, assault, kidnapping

Attempting to choose the worst love story ever for this week’s Thunderdome was no easy task. There are so many, and they are all so bad. Contenders high on my list were Ana and Christian from 50 Shades of Grey, Hardin and Tessa from the After series and Edward and Bella from Twilight.

In the end, the ‘love story’—and I use that term loosely—that outshone them all was that of Laura and Massimo from 365 Dni or 365 Days in English.

The premise is simple— Super bad but objectively attractive mafia dude spots a pretty girl on a beach moments before a tragic accident kills his family member. Mafia dude becomes obsessed with said girl, eventually kidnapping her and telling her he intends to hold her hostage for 365 days, in which time she is to fall in love with him, and if she doesn’t, he’ll let her go.

At this point, you might be thinking, ‘sounds awful; why did you even watch it?’—The answer is simple, my friends. The internet told me to. The hype over the ‘basically porn but technically not, Polish/English love story’ was flooding my Facebook feed, and I had to see what all the fuss was about.

It was so bad that I have relied exclusively on google and my memory to construct this article because not even the potential of winning a Thunderdome bout could motivate me to sit through that film ever again.

The ‘Love Story’

The story between the two main characters reads like a really weird flex on the classic ‘Beauty and the Beast’ tale. Unfortunately, kidnapping, assault, verbal and physical abuse, and an obvious case of Stockholm Syndrome does not a ‘tale as old as time’ make.

This is coming from someone who openly admits to being lured into the bad boy romance redemption arc. I have found myself shipping my fair share of toxic couplings in the past, but Massimo and Laura is a step too far.

In many tales that follow this trajectory, we are given something that creates an element of sympathy for the ‘bad’ person in the relationship, usually revealing that this person isn’t really ‘bad’ but is indeed a good person projecting a ‘bad’ outward image as some sort of defence mechanism (still not super healthy, but hear me out).

Massimo is bad. Like, bad to the bone, bad. If he wasn’t attractive, there would be absolutely nothing appealing about his personality or behaviour. He isn’t looking to get out of a bad situation and live a better life, and he isn’t harbouring a secret heart of gold deep down under his rough exterior. He is just bad.

All there is to say about Laura is that she’s a victim. The idea that she ‘fell in love’ after having Massimo’s junk repeatedly shoved in her face at every turn while he manhandles and manipulates her is likely triggering for some viewers. This ‘love story’ really ought to come with a disclaimer beyond the graphic sex scenes.

The point is, there is usually something that makes us want to ship the couple getting together in the end. 365 days lacks that element entirely.

I will admit, the film almost had me in the widely talked about ‘boat scene’ where we see our enemies become lovers, over and over again, in every room, platform and flat surface of the multi-million dollar luxury yacht.

After Laura falls overboard, she wakes to find a genuinely concerned looking Massimo watching over her. It was in this moment, and only this moment, I thought, “Naww, look at the way he looks at her. Sure, he’s a total psychopath, but there’s love in those eyes.”

As the viewer of more than my fair share of romantic movies, I was positive this would be the big moment, the big moment being the first kiss.

How wrong I was.

After waking up from her unconscious state, Laura looks at Massimo mutters something along the lines of “You saved me….” Um, yeah, lady, from nearly drowning after falling off the boat he is literally holding you hostage on. Then, from nowhere, she proceeds to deliver one of the most violent and graphic blowjobs I’ve ever seen in a movie. No kissing, no foreplay, not even a cuddle.

Then we watch the fifteen-minute montage of the abovementioned ‘boat scene’ wherein we see even more graphic, aggressive sex, and badabing badaboom—our hero and heroine are now madly in love. All of the previous acts of flat out abuse we’ve witnessed up until this point are blissfully forgotten due to the mind-blowing sex.

Laura quickly shacks up with bad boy Massimo, enjoying her new lavish lifestyle, calling him ‘baby’ and having more and more violent sex. There’s the typical spanner thrown in the works due to Massimo’s shady past threatening to pry our lovers apart, indeed, giving our female lead the chance to get the hell outta dodge, but instead, our ‘lovers’ reconcile, back into their state of romantic bliss only for the film to end with a cliffhanger suggesting Laura has been in a car crash, leaving Massimo devastated.

Sigh, ain’t love grand?

So. Many. Issues.

Aside from the fact that it’s simply terrible storytelling, romanticising abuse in this way should be illegal.

Massimo and Laura’s story lacks every single thing a love story should be built on. Trust, respect, boundaries and consent are non-existent. Not only does Massimo stalk and kidnap Laura, but he also drugs her boyfriend and convinces him to cheat on her so he can take photos to use as ‘evidence’ later.

There is no redemption arc here. This story ends badly and letting anyone believe there is hope for a different outcome is grossly irresponsible.

Men like Massimo do not suddenly stop being psychotic abusers no matter how ‘in love’ they fall. Their obsessive, possessive and abusive behaviours morph but remain constant. It might not look the same, especially with the rose tint overlaid by the magic of the movies, but it’s there, in all its terrifying glory.

The worst part is, apparently there are two more books from which two more films are to be based, where our leading lady falls for another kidnapping drug lord and then has to deal with Massimo going from ‘psycho lover’ to ‘psycho jilted ex’ with all the traumatic repercussions that implies.

There you have it. While I’m sure the other contenders in this week’s bout are certifiably bad, Laura and Massimo are undoubtedly the obvious choice for worst.

What say you?

Based only on the arguments presented (you have read all of them, haven’t you?) and not on personal preference: who wins this bout? Voting closes on February 24 at 6:59 AM.

The other entries:

Love Actually by Paul Combs
Anakin and Padme from Star Wars by Simon Dillon