SCREEN | Sebastian Stan Parties Through 'Monday'

"Thank you for not being an asshole."

IFC Films / Protagonist Pictures

Greek filmmaker Argyris Papadimitropoulos channels a pure sense of destructive yet joyful energy in his sexy indie romance. Essentially a loose European party film, Monday chronicles the long-term aftermath of a seemingly random summer weekend of debaucherous partying across various Greek islands.

Starring Sebastian Stan and Denise Gough as fast lovers turned new couple, Mickey (a hard-living DJ) and Chloe (a saucy immigration lawyer), who spend a year together after a drunken one-night stand ends with them naked on a beach the morning after at the start of the film, we follow how their unconventional relationship develops over the course of a few months after hooking up. Their dynamic chemistry as strangers quick to a casual sense of sensuality with each other drives the events from scene to scene fluidly.

Papadimitropoulos and Rob Hayes' simple script leaves room for the lead performers to create their characters' sense of familiarity as newcomers coming together through sheer attraction. The pairing have rigorous sex several times in the first act of screen time after meeting yet the consequences of this are seen both comically and achingly as their relationship evolves months after first meeting.

Stan and Gough make Papadimitropoulos's party of a film into a light and sexy affair with enough interesting, sometimes dark turns to hold our attention. Monday's joy is in witnessing the in-the-moment fun of careless adventure surrounded by other people. It wondrously captures a pure feeling of wild abandon focused on sex and attraction.

Monday is available to stream on various digital platforms and through video on demand.


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