La Chimera
Just out of jail and still searching for his late beloved Beniamina, crumpled 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. Arthur isn’t interested in the artefacts, though; he’s seeking a legendary door to the underworld, and to Beniamina.
- Released:
- Runtime: 130 minutes
- Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
- Stars: Isabella Rossellini, Josh O'Connor, Alba Rohrwacher, Vincenzo Nemolato, Carol Duarte, Barbara Chiesa, Elisabetta Perotto, Chiara Pazzaglia, Francesca Carrain, Lou Roy-Lecollinet, Ramona Fiorini, Yle Vianello, Carlo Tarmati, Gian Piero Capretto, Giuliano Mantovani, Luca Gargiullo, Luciano Vergaro
- Director: Alice Rohrwacher
Comments
- adamk-2 - 2 July 2024
A Long Slog to the Underworld
I rented "La Chimera" from Amazon where it's described as"Comedy - Romance - Action" and I can attest that it is resolutely NONE OF THESE THINGS. It is, instead, an earnest and self-satisfied "art" film that trudges along emanating smug, "Hey, this is DEEP" vibes. Josh O'Connor, one of the draws for me, sulks and mooches and chain smokes through the whole thing, sulking in broody, picturesque ways and shabby linen suits. It' a surprisingly dull, sullen performance but it matches the film's turgid pace. The director thinks she's Fellini, but she doesn't have the wit or the vision to even come close, and stuffs her cast with "loveable" rogues and Italian eccentrics in the hope that it will do. It doesn't, and the result is merely a preening, self-regarding and torpid trudge to the end. - masonsaul - 14 May 2024
Art house Indiana Jones
La Chimera is a slow burning journey with plenty to say that's deliberately hard to pin down, making it all the more rewarding when it coalesces. Coincidentally, it's also the best film released in the last year about a grizzled archaeologist returning to recovering ancient artefacts on one last adventure whilst still grieving the loss of a loved one.
Josh O'Connor is so good at being reserved without being completely closed off. The only real emotion that he shows is anger but everything else is so clearly contained in his anguish and charming smile. He's supported by a crew of boisterous personalities who are initially a lot of fun to be around though not without their darker sides.
Alice Rohrwacher's direction draws you in and keeps you so invested that the subtle aspect ratio shifts almost go unnoticed. It's simultaneously a film that's very grounded with stunning locations which all feel lived in and at the same time has it's more surreal moments that imbues the film with a dreamlike nature, especially in its final moments.
