The Stendhal Syndrome

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The Stendhal Syndrome
Italian theatrical release poster
Directed by	Dario Argento
Screenplay by	Dario Argento
Story by	Dario Argento Franco Ferrini
Based on	La Sindrome di Stendhal by Graziella Magherini
Produced by	Dario Argento Giuseppe Colombo
Starring	Asia Argento Thomas Kretschmann Marco Leonardi Luigi Diberti Julien Lambroschini John Quentin Paolo Bonacelli
Cinematography	Giuseppe Rotunno
Edited by	Angelo Nicolini
Music by	Ennio Morricone
Production companies	Cine 2000 Medusa Produzione
Distributed by	Medusa Distribuzione
Release date	January 26, 1996 (1996-01-26)
Running time	120 minutes
Country	Italy
Language	Italian
Budget	$3,800,000 (estimated)
Box office	₤5,443,000 (Italy)

The Stendhal Syndrome (Ital. La Sindrome di Stendhal) is a 1996 Italian horror film written and directed by Dario Argento and starring his daughter Asia Argento, with Thomas Kretschmann and Marco Leonardi. It was a critical and commercial success in Italy, grossing ₤5,443,000 Italian lira (US $3,809,977).

The title refers to a psychological condition in which a subject enters a fugue state induced by the presence of art. Argento said he experienced Stendhal syndrome as a child. While touring Athens with his parents young Dario was climbing the steps of the Parthenon when he was overcome by a trance that caused him to become lost from his parents for hours. The experience was so strong that Argento never forgot it; he immediately thought of it when he came across Graziella Magherini's book about the syndrome, which would become the basis of the film.