The Stendhal Syndrome

Infobox_Film
name = "La Sindrome di Stendhal" ("The Stendhal Syndrome" / "Stendhal's Syndrome")


caption = Blue Underground DVD cover
director = Dario Argento
producer = Dario Argento
Giuseppe Colombo
writer = Dario Argento
Franco Ferrini
Graziella Magherini (novel)
starring = Asia Argento
Thomas Kretschmann
Marco Leonardi
music = Ennio Morricone
cinematography = Giuseppe Rotunno
distributor = Troma Entertainment (USA)
released = 1996
runtime = 120 min
amg_id = 1:135853
imdb_id = 0117658
language = Italian (U.S. release dubbed into English)|

"The Stendhal Syndrome" is a 1996 Italian thriller, written and directed by Dario Argento and starring his daughter Asia Argento. It was the first Italian film to use computer-generated imagery (CGI).

Plot Summary

Detective Anna Manni (Asia Argento) travels to Florence on the trail of a serial rapist / killer (Thomas Kretschmann). While at a museum, Anna is struck by the Stendhal Syndrome, which causes people to become overwhelmed by great works of art. The rapist uses this disorder against Anna, raping and kidnapping her before she eventually gets redemption and has a whole new perspective to life.

Reaction

Argento's recent films have received mixed reactions from fans, however, "The Stendhal Syndrome" is widely considered to be one of the stronger films of this period.

Fans were also happy to see Argento again collaborating with Ennio Morricone (the two had not worked together since 1971's "Four Flies on Grey Velvet") as well as a return to Italian locations after two films shot in America ("Two Evil Eyes" and "Trauma").

Many were shocked by the film's tone, which is much darker than Argento's previous giallo and supernatural films, focusing more on the psychological aspects of violence than the violence itself.

Argento's choice to direct a graphic rape scene starring his own daughter has also created some controversy.Fact|date=January 2008

Pop culture instances

"Stendhal Syndrome" is an album by Rusty Eye. This title is an homage to film director Dario Argento and to the illness itself; a result to multiple variations in sound, style and speed that cause a bizarre confusion of the senses i.e. the Stendhal syndrome.

Trivia

*Argento planned on making a sequel to the film which would follow Detective Anna Manni on another case. However, Asia was unavailable, so the character's name was changed (to Anna Mari) and Stefania Rocca was cast. The resulting film is 2004's "The Card Player".
*This is the second of four films in which Dario has directed his daughter Asia, the three others are "Trauma", "The Phantom of the Opera", and the upcoming "The Mother of Tears". She also had roles in "Demons 2" and "The Church", which Dario produced, along with her directorial debut "Scarlet Diva".
*The opening scene' was shot in Florence at Italy's famed Uffizi Gallery. Argento is the only director ever granted permission to shoot there.
*In the USA, the film is distributed by cult B-movie company Troma Entertainment. A new special edition DVD of the film has been released by Blue Underground on August 30, 2007.

External links

* [http://www.contamination.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/articles/stendhal_syndrome.htm An analysis of The Stendhal Syndrome]