The Stendhal Syndrome
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| 'La Sindrome di Stendhal (The Stendhal Syndrome / Stendhal's Syndrome) | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Dario Argento |
| Produced by | Dario Argento Giuseppe Colombo |
| Written by | Dario Argento Franco Ferrini Graziella Magherini (novel) |
| Starring | Asia Argento Thomas Kretschmann Marco Leonardi |
| Music by | Ennio Morricone |
| Cinematography | Giuseppe Rotunno |
| Distributed by | Troma Entertainment (USA) |
| Release date(s) | 1996 |
| Running time | 120 min |
| Language | Italian (U.S. release dubbed into English) |
| Allmovie profile | |
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).
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.[citation needed]
[edit] 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.
[edit] Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- 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.
