The Stendhal Syndrome

A seasoned detective who travels to Florence to track a serial rapist and murderer. She endures Stendhal syndrome upon viewing art, which becomes the catalyst for trauma, disorientation, and vulnerability. Her escape from captivity and later encounters test her resilience, while the killer's influence complicates her grasp on reality. The climax cycles between pursuit, self-doubt, and devastating acts that culminate in police intervention.

A sadistic criminal who uses Anna's condition to disable and abduct her, demonstrating a chilling mastery of manipulation. His acts of violence drive the plot, and his apparent death frees Anna from immediate danger, even as his influence persists. His return in Anna's mind adds a chilling psychological game that culminates in a deadly confrontation.

A young French art student whom Anna grows to love after the river-search and presumed killer's death. Marie's murder becomes a pivotal emotional blow that triggers further trauma and confusion for Anna. Her presence in Anna's life represents beauty and partnership that are violently interrupted.

Anna's colleague who tries to alert her to Alfredo's supposed death and later arrives during the climactic confrontation. He becomes a casualty in the unraveling of Anna's psyche as she attempts to defend herself and others. His role illustrates the tension between professional duty and personal danger.

Anna's psychologist, who questions her mental state and confronts her with the unsettling truth about Marie's murder. He embodies the medical perspective on trauma and memory, yet becomes another casualty of Anna's fractured psyche. His involvement highlights the film's interest in psychological manipulation and truth-telling.