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La Chimera
La chimera
2023 131 min Italy, France, Switzerland, Turkey 18+
★7.8
Drama, Fantasy, Comedy
Director: Alice Rohrwacher
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Teaser
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Description
Just out of jail, rumpled English archaeologist Arthur reconnects with his wayward crew of tombaroli accomplices – a happy-go-lucky collective of itinerant grave-robbers who survive by looting Etruscan tombs and fencing the ancient treasures they dig up.
US Gross:
$1M
Worldwide:
$4.93M
Starring
Josh O'Connor
Actor
Carol Duarte
Actor
Vincenzo Nemolato
Actor
Awards
European Film Awards 2023
— Best Production Design
Cannes Film Festival 2023
— AFCAE Award
Cannes Film Festival 2023
— Palme d'Or
Goya Awards 2025
— Best European Film
European Film Awards 2023
— Best Actor
Key opinion
La Chimera is a lyrical, myth-infused exploration of grief and the tension between material greed and spiritual longing, set against the backdrop of 1980s Italy. While its slow, abstract, and metaphorical approach creates a deeply rewarding experience for fans of arthouse and magical realism, it may leave viewers seeking traditional narrative clarity feeling disconnected.
| Acting | Josh O'Connor's portrayal of the grieving Arthur serves as a vulnerable, haunting anchor for the film's surreal explorations. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography masterfully employs experimental film formats, frame variations, and visual transitions to bridge the gap between reality and the afterlife. | |
| Direction | Alice Rohrwacher's direction weaves a unique, fable-like language that effectively balances earthy neorealism with ethereal, magical elements. | |
| Pacing | The film's meditative, slow-burn pacing is celebrated for building atmosphere and depth by proponents, while detractors find it aimless, confusing, or boring. | |
| Screenplay | The non-linear, metaphor-heavy screenplay rewards those who embrace its symbolic ambiguity but alienates those requiring logical narrative progression. |