MovieChat Forums > La sindrome di Stendhal (1996) Discussion > Possibly my Favorite Argento Opening

Possibly my Favorite Argento Opening

posted 8 years ago by patrick_bateman_90056
4 replies | jump to latest

I had recently heard of this film when seeing a list people made of their favorite underrated Ennio Morricone scores. After listening to several tracks from the score and watching the trailer, I decided to just blind buy "The Stendhal Syndrome" from Best Buy and wasn't disappointed. Of all the Argento films I've seen so far, it's definitely the most unpredictable and sadistic of his films I've seen, especially the moments between Asia Argento and Thomas Kretschmann.

But the highlight for me was the opening sequence of Anna in the museum. Between Morricone's score subtly turning up the tension and the camera capturing every facet of the museum and using the beauty to both draw us deeper in and isolate us from any possibility of hope and "redemption" from Alfredo's disease, it truly set a bar for what Argento, on his best days, can accomplish.

[–] guigui-paul 8 years ago

It is a great scene, isn't it?
No words, just pure direction, music and acting, all the feelings conveyed by Argento's camera, Morricone's haunting soundtrack and Asia Argento's face.
French director and critic Nicolas Saada once wrote that 'If Argento had only directed in his career the 10 first minutes of THE STENDHAL SYNDROME, it would be enough to say he's a Master...one of the most beautiful scenes in movies's history!"

THE STENDHAL SYNDROME is one of my favourite Argento movies, it's eerie, deep, sad, great character's study and some haunting scenes (the last scene/shot is great too).

http://www.myspace.com/guillaumep
http://darioargentofr.blogspot.com/

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] 8 years ago

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[–] patrick_bateman_90056 8 years ago

I think if he could just think of the right material, he still could. If he was able to do "The Stendhal Syndrome" later in his career, he's still capable of something brilliantly beautiful and chilling.