With minimal fanfare compared to most other films like it, Through Night and Day, a rom-com starring the unexpected pairing of Paolo Contis and Alessandra De Rossi that came out two years ago, suddenly topped the local Netflix charts, seemingly from out of nowhere. If you haven’t seen it, you owe it to yourself to at least give it a try. Here are 8 reasons why this relatively unknown film is now the talk of the town.
8. This film was almost an unofficial sequel to Kita Kita.
Alessandra De Rossi, having co-written the film, did not actually have Paolo Contis at the top of her list for her leading man. Instead, she was going for Empoy Marquez, her co-star in the wildly successful Kita Kita.
Thankfully, things didn’t turn out that way — not because Empoy Marquez is bad, by any stretch of the imagination, but because Paolo Contis turned out to be perfect for the role.
7. The chemistry between the leads was off the charts.
Through Night and Day’s central conceit is that their lead couple have been friends since childhood, and you’d practically believe it, the way Ben and Jen (yep) played off of each other. From the endless barbs they trade at each other, to their very light attitude about everything even when they were on the verge of a huge change of status quo, Paolo and Alessandra jived unbelievably well.
6. Iceland was breathtaking yet also perfect for quiet contemplation.
Shooting on location for Iceland was a stroke of genius, as the unique scenery served as a lovely backdrop for a romantic love story that is on the cusp of one of its biggest challenges.
5. Just the right amount of off-color humor.
The green jokes were a product of Paolo Contis practically improvising his way through the movie, and it shows. It’s pretty obvious that this film could have been scripted more, but it would not have served the film as well.
4. We needed a film like this.
Traveling with someone is normally the litmus test of how well you will be able to deal with each other. After all, not only are you in proximity of each other most of the time, the both of you have to deal with each other in unfamiliar territory. This makes or breaks relationships, even those we thought have been tested for ages. Seeing this happen across the movie really was an eye-opener.
3. It’s a treatise on how to say goodbye.
How do you give closure to someone without giving them false hope? It’s such a tightrope act, but in a world of Clint Bondad’s, Ben and Jen’s swan song for each other is a refreshing change of pace.
2. It has a lot to say about how we gloss over things.
The quirks we put up with on a daily basis seem to only be magnified during travel, and it’s a good reminder: sometimes, things aren’t as easy as the movies make it look. Which is why it’s good to see a movie pretty much admitting it’s not.
1. Because this movie deserves it.
Through Night and Day, by all counts, was a complete bomb the first time it came out in the cinemas. Netflix ended up giving it a second lease on life, and on this new platform, movies that deserve your attention but slipped under your radar can finally get the recognition they truly deserve. Here’s hoping more movies get this treatment as time goes by.
Have you watched Through Night and Day yet? Tell us what you thought of the film in the comments!
