Study (film)

Starts on Monday, in the middle of his room, a student (Paolo Benetazzo) tries to study surrounded by his past and his present, obsessed by the concept of life and death, and tortured by the eternal struggle between science and religion. Each day is a distinct representation of how the student's behavior can be influenced by interpersonal relationships and subsequently by society. His consciousness is revealed through a combination of memories, emotions and motivations in a six-day span, while one day is entirely focused on his unconscious cognitive processes. As the days go by, unexpected characters and situations interfere with the student, turning what was meant to be a regular week of study into a complete nightmare.

Study is Paolo Benetazzo's feature film directorial debut.{{cite web|title=Behind the lense with Paolo Benetazzo|url=http://beonthesceneuk.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/behind-lense-with-paolo-benetazzo.html|publisher=Beonthescene.com|accessdate=10 January 2014}} Fascinated by the study of psychology and its impact on modern life, Benetazzo decided to explore that connection in a feature film.{{cite web|title=The making of Study by Paolo Benetazzo|url=http://www.internationalmovietrailerfestival.com/blog/the-making-of-study-by-paolo-benetazzo/|publisher=Internationalmovietrailerfestival.com|accessdate=5 December 2013}} Once graduated in Psychology he moved to Dublin where he started writing the script.

Filming began in Ireland and went on for a year. The following four years were spent in Italy, in the Venice area, shooting on small sound stages, composing the music and constantly editing. This film, he explains: “comes from a long introspective and experimental work developed over a period of five years. It deals with central concepts in human existence from a psychological point of view.”

The film was produced on a budget of only $10,000. Benetazzo made the entire movie without any film crew. Many scenes were filmed with no one behind the camera. He later stated: “Making this movie was like living a dream in hell: the budget was ridiculous, the film crew was non-existent and I had no connections whatsoever. The experience was so extreme that I thought about quitting in several occasions.”

Influenced by unconventional filmmaking techniques, he worked with an open screenplay and used unknown actors, friends and family.

{{main|Study (soundtrack)}}

The film features many pieces of classical music reinterpreted such as Un Sospiro and Piano Concerto No. 2 (Liszt), Funeral March (Chopin) and Nocturne in E minor, Op. posth. 72 (Chopin), Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune and Arabesque No. 1 by Debussy, L’usignuolo by Respighi, Prelude to Act 1 Lohengrin by Wagner.

The film also features different music genres including hard rock, psychedelic rock, new age, funk rock, gothic rock, thrash metal. The original score was composed by Jean Charles Carbone, Roberto Chemello and Paolo Benetazzo.

According to Benetazzo: “Music plays a crucial part in Study. The film does not rely on traditional techniques of narrative cinema. I wanted the film to be a primarily visual and sound experience in which music plays a vital role in evoking specific atmospheres.” The soundtrack album was released on iTunes on October 1, 2013.{{cite web|title=Study (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/study-original-motion-picture/720983425|publisher=iTunes|access-date=1 October 2013}}

Study premiered in London at the Portobello Film Festival on September 1, 2012.{{cite web|title=London films|url=http://www.portobellofilmfestival.com/2012/sept01_pop.html|publisher=Portobello Film Festival|accessdate=1 September 2012}} It has since gained a cult status, due to underground popularity. The film was released via VHX on January 8, 2015.{{cite web|title=VHX: Study|url=http://study.vhx.tv/|publisher=VHX|accessdate=8 January 2015}}

• Portobello Film Festival 2012: Nomination for Audience Award
• California Film Awards 2012: Winner Gold Award
• Accolade Competition 2013: Winner Award of Merit for Feature Film{{cite web|title=Winners March 2013|url=http://www.accoladecompetition.org/?page_id=241|publisher=Accolade Competition|accessdate=1 March 2013}}
• Accolade Competition 2013: Winner Award of Merit for Leading Actor
• Los Angeles Movie Awards 2013: Winner Honorable Mention{{cite web|title=LAMA 2013 Winners|url=http://thelamovieawards.com/2013_Winners.html|publisher=Thelamovieawards.com|accessdate=15 May 2013}}
• SoCal Film Festival 2013: Official Selection{{cite web|title=Official selection SoCal Film Festival 2013|url=http://socalfilmfest.com/about-the-socal/awards-selections/2013-2/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114005714/http://socalfilmfest.com/about-the-socal/awards-selections/2013-2/|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 January 2014|publisher=Socalfilmfest.com|access-date=29 August 2013}}
• Columbia Gorge International Film Festival 2014: Official Selection{{cite web|title=Official selection Columbia Gorge International Film Festival 2014|url=http://www.angaelica.com/festivals/2014cgif/|publisher=Angaelica.com|accessdate=26 July 2014}}
• Cyprus International Film Festival 2014: Official Selection

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|http://www.studythemovie.com}}
• {{IMDb title|1667488|Study}}

Category:2012 films

Category:2012 psychological thriller films

Category:Italian independent films

Category:Italian psychological thriller films

Category:2012 independent films

Category:2010s English-language films

Category:English-language independent films

Category:English-language thriller films