La chimera

In 1980, Arthur, a former British archaeologist, returns to Italy after being released from prison; he was arrested for stealing artifacts from tombs to sell to an art dealer named Spartaco. He goes to visit his ex-girlfriend Beniamina's mother, Flora, at her family home, where he also meets her live-in maid and student, Italia. Beniamina has been missing for an undisclosed amount of time, but her mother is convinced she will one day return. Beniamina's sisters are sick of Arthur seemingly freeloading off their mother and try to find him a job, which he refuses. Arthur, lacking a decent coat and proper heating in his hut, catches a cold.

The next day, Flora sends Italia to bring Arthur some coffee and a thermometer. While she looks around his place, Arthur discovers that his artifacts - which he had kept buried in the ground beneath a tree - are missing. Arthur goes to his gang's lair. Confronted, they return his stolen artifacts and attempt to reconcile. He rebuffs them initially, but accompanies them to the Epiphany celebrations happening in town. During the festival, a farmer approaches them about locating a tomb on his land. Arthur's friends agree to look for it.

At the farm, Arthur, his gang, also tomb raiders (tombaroli), and a young photographer named Melodie, search for the tomb, which Arthur locates using a dowsing twig and through his 'chimeras' - visions he experiences upon standing atop a gravesite. Arthur feigns being sick so that his friends can scare away the farmer and return later in the night to excavate the Etruscan grave goods. Arthur and his friends continue to rob tombs, collecting artifacts to sell, and bringing them to Spartaco who runs an illicit operation inside a veterinary clinic.

Arthur and Italia grow close after some time, and Arthur expresses romantic interest in her one night as they dance on a beach. His friends decide to go skinny dipping, but are stopped when Arthur experiences a vision - locating a grave. Upon realizing that Arthur and his friends are graverobbers, Italia threatens to call the police. She tries to appeal to Arthur by asking what Beniamina would think of him - the others dismiss her, telling her that Beniamina is dead. Upset, Italia leaves.

Inside the tomb, Arthur and his friends discover a statue of Cybele.{{Cite web |title="LA CHIMERA" COLLABORATION WITH CURZON |url=https://scrt.onl/blogs/journal/la-chimera-collaboration-with-curzon |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=SCRT |language=en}} His friends decapitate the statue in an attempt to move it out of the tomb, which Arthur disapproves as he is deeply moved by it. Hearing police sirens, Arthur and his friends flee with the head of the statue, unaware that the sirens were a trick by another group attempting to steal the artifacts. Flora's family discovers that Italia was secretly hiding her children in her room and they kick her out.

Melodie takes the gang to find Spartaco, who is her aunt. They find Spartaco on a boat, running an auction to sell the rest of the statue, which she estimates is of invaluable worth. They attempt to bargain with her by using the head as blackmail. She asks to see the head to verify its legitimacy. Arthur reveals it to her, but has a change of heart and tosses it overboard and into the water.

Furious with Arthur, his gang parts ways with him. Out on the streets after his hut is taken down by police, Arthur runs into Italia's daughter, Colombina. She orders him to clean up and then takes him to her mother, who is now living in an abandoned train station with other single mothers. The two reconcile and share a kiss, only for him to leave again in the morning.

Arthur joins the group of tomb robbers who previously pretended to be police officers. After locating a tunnel and at the insistence of the group, Arthur reluctantly enters. The shaft crumbles behind him, trapping him inside. He has a final vision where he reunites with Beniamina.

{{Cast listing|

• Josh O'Connor as Arthur
• Carol Duarte as Italia
• Vincenzo Nemolato as Pirro
• Alba Rohrwacher as Spartaco
• Isabella Rossellini as Flora
• Lou Roy-Lecollinet as Mélodie
• Giuliano Mantovani as Jerry
• Gian Piero Capretto as Mario
• Melchiorre Pala as Melchiorre
• Ramona Fiorini as Fabiana
• Luca Gargiullo as Dock Worker
• Yile Vianello as Beniamina
• Barbara Chiesa as Nella
• Elisabetta Perotto as Vera
• Chiara Pazzaglia as Rossa
• Francesca Carrain as Sista
• Valentino Santagati as Troubadour (voice and guitar)
• Piero Crucitti as Troubadour (triangle and accordion)
• Luciano Vergaro as Katir
• Carlo Tarmati as Carabiniere

}}

Filmmaker Alice Rohrwacher planned La chimera as the last part of a trilogy with Le meraviglie (The Wonders, 2014) and Lazzaro felice (Happy as Lazzaro, 2018) to investigate our relationship with the past.{{cite magazine|last=Vivarelli|first=Nick|title='The Crown' Star Josh O'Connor, Isabella Rossellini Set for Alice Rohrwacher's 'La Chimera' (EXCLUSIVE)|date=14 February 2022|magazine=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/josh-oconnor-isabella-rossellini-alice-rohrwacher-la-chimera-1235180971/|accessdate=18 February 2022}} For the last film she chose an international cast for the first time.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-2022-la-chimera-josh-oconnor-neon-1235151049/ |title=Cannes: Neon Nabs Alice Rohrwacher's 'La Chimera,' Starring Josh O'Connor, Isabella Rossellini |first=Alex |last=Ritman |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=20 May 2022 |accessdate=1 June 2023}}

Filming was done in February 2022 resuming in August 2022, on locations in southern Tuscany (Montalcino, Asciano–Monte Antico railway, Monte Amiata Scalo, Torrenieri), northern Lazio (Tarquinia, Blera, San Lorenzo Nuovo, Civitavecchia) and Umbria (villa di Casa Pisana in Castel Giorgio), with additional filming in Switzerland.{{cite news|last=Vagaggini|first=Elisabetta|date=14 April 2023|title="La Chimera", il nuovo film di Alice Rohrwacher in concorso a Cannes 76|url=https://www.intoscana.it/it/articolo/la-chimera-film-di-alice-rohrwacher-in-concorso-a-cannes-76/|work=intoscana - Il Portale ufficiale della Toscana|language=it|access-date=5 January 2024}}{{cite news|date=28 September 2022|title=Civitavecchia, 7 giorni di riprese per "La Chimera", il nuovo film di Alice Rohrwacher|url=https://www.meridiananotizie.it/2022/09/cronaca/civitavecchia-7-giorni-di-riprese-per-la-chimera-il-nuovo-film-di-alice-rohrwacher/|work=Meridiana Notizie, Agenzia videogiornalistica dedicata alla Regione Lazio, Sede ROMA|language=it|access-date=5 January 2024}}{{cite news|date=23 February 2022|title=In Toscana l'anno dei grandi set riparte con il nuovo film di Alice Rohrwacher|url=https://www.toscanafilmcommission.it/in-toscana-lanno-dei-grandi-set-riparte-con-il-nuovo-film-di-alice-rohrwacher/|publisher=Toscana Film Commission|language=it|access-date=5 January 2024}}{{cite magazine|last=Ravarino|first=Ilaria|date=26 May 2023|title=Alice Rohrwacher on Tomb Raiders, AI and Casting Josh O'Connor in 'La Chimera'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/alice-rohrwacher-interview-la-chimera-josh-oconnor-1235500609/|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=5 January 2024}}{{cite magazine|last=Santacatterina|first=Manuela|date=23 November 2023|title="La Chimera è un film fatto a mano, tra divinità, tombe e dipinti rupestri": parola di Emita Frigato, professione scenografa|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.it/film/film-italiani/la-chimera-intervista-emita-frigato-scenografa-film-alice-rohrwacher/67745/|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|language=it|location=Rome|access-date=8 April 2024}}

La chimera premiered at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 26 May 2023, where it was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or and received a nine-minute standing ovation.{{Cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |last2=Tartaglione |first2=Nancy |date=26 May 2023 |title=Alice Rohrwacher's 'La Chimera' Revels In Nine-Minute Standing Ovation At Triumphant Cannes Film Festival Premiere |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/la-chimera-alice-rohrwacher-josh-oconnor-standing-ovation-cannes-film-festival-premiere-1235380901/ |access-date=26 May 2023 |website=Deadline}} It screened at the 61st New York Film Festival in October 2023.{{Cite web |last=Keogan |first=Natalia |date=8 August 2023 |title=New York Film Festival Reveals Main Slate for 61st Edition {{!}} Filmmaker Magazine |url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/122478-new-york-film-festival-main-slate-2023/ |access-date=27 August 2023 |website=Filmmaker |language=en-US}} It was also invited at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in 'Icon' section and was screened on 7 October 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.biff.kr/eng/html/program/prog_all_list.asp?allYear=2023 |title= The 28th Busan International Film Festival: Selection List |website=Busan International Film Festival|date=5 September 2023|access-date=11 September 2023|language=en}}

It was released in Italy by 01 Distribution on 23 November 2023,{{cite magazine|last=Ravarino|first=Ilaria|date=5 July 2023|title=Cartoline da Venezia: quattro film del listino 01 Distribution in predicato per il Lido|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.it/industry/cartoline-da-venezia-quattro-film-del-listino-01-distributions-in-predicato-per-il-lido/27358/|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter Roma|language=it|access-date=5 August 2023}} and in France by Ad Vitam on 6 December 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficepro.fr/ecoprod-designe-ses-laureats/|title=Ecoprod désigne ses lauréats|last=Mrad|first=Slim|date=21 May 2023|website=Boxoffice Pro|language=fr|access-date=5 August 2023}} Neon acquired North American distribution rights to the film at the Marché du Film at Cannes in May 2022;{{cite magazine|last=Ravindran|first=Manori|title=Neon Buys Josh O'Connor and Isabella Rossellini's 'La Chimera'|date=20 May 2022|magazine=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/global/josh-oconnor-isabella-rossellini-la-chimera-neon-1235272824/amp/|accessdate=20 May 2022}}{{cite web|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|title=Neon Takes North America On Alice Rohrwacher's 'La Chimera' – Cannes|date=20 May 2022|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/neon-acquires-la-chimera-josh-oconnor-isabella-rossellini-alice-rohrwacher-1235029045/amp/|accessdate=20 May 2022}}{{cite magazine|last=Ritman|first=Alex|title=Cannes: Neon Nabs Alice Rohrwacher's 'La Chimera,' Starring Josh O'Connor, Isabella Rossellini|date=20 May 2022|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-2022-la-chimera-josh-oconnor-neon-1235151049/|accessdate=20 May 2022}} it was released in the United States by Neon on 29 March 2024.{{Cite web |last=Vivarelli |first=Nick |date=23 May 2023 |title=Alice Rohrwacher on Casting 'The Crown' Star Josh O'Connor as a British Archaeologist Who Helps Steal Artifacts in 'La Chimera' – Watch Clip (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/alice-rohrwacher-the-crown-josh-oconnor-la-chimera-trailer-1235608370/ |access-date=26 May 2023 |website=Variety}}{{cite web |url=https://neonrated.com/films/la-chimera |title=LA CHIMERA |publisher=Neon |access-date=15 January 2024}} Earlier, in the United States, it was released for a one-week awards-qualifying run beginning 8 December 2023.{{Cite web |last=Raup |first=Jordan |date=1 December 2023 |title=14 Films to See in December |url=https://thefilmstage.com/14-films-to-see-in-december-2023/ |access-date=27 August 2024 |website=The Film Stage}} Elastica released the film in Spain on 19 April 2024.{{Cite web|language=es|url=https://www.neo2.com/fellini-vuelve-al-cine-con-la-chimera-de-alice-rohrwacher/|website=neo2|date=26 March 2024|first=David|last=Erauskin|access-date=23 December 2024|title=Fellini vuelve al cine con La Quimera de Alice Rohrwacher}}{{Cite web|url=https://as.com/meristation/cine/la-quimera-una-pelicula-sobre-los-problemas-de-un-grupo-de-ladrones-de-tumbas-en-los-anos-80-v/|website=Meristation|via=As|date=23 April 2024|language=es|access-date=23 December 2024|first=Borja|last=Ruete|title=‘La Quimera’, una película sobre los problemas de un grupo de ladrones de tumbas en los años 80}} Curzon released the film in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 10 May 2024.{{Cite news |last=Ide |first=Wendy |date=12 May 2024 |title=La Chimera review – Josh O'Connor dazzles in brilliant tale of Italian tomb-raiders |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/may/12/la-chimera-review-josh-oconnor-dazzles-in-brilliant-tale-of-italian-tomb-raiders |access-date=27 August 2024 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}{{Cite web |last=Calnan |first=Ellie |date=29 June 2023 |title=Curzon scoops three Cannes titles for UK and Ireland (exclusive) |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/curzon-scoops-three-cannes-titles-for-uk-and-ireland-exclusive/5183595.article |access-date=27 August 2024 |website=Screen International}}

The film opened in North America on 29 March 2024 and grossed $44,511 from 3 theatres during its opening weekend, finishing 32nd at the box office.{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=29 March 2024 |title=Liam Neeson & Sean Penn Pics Stomp Into Monster Mashup Weekend – Specialty Preview |url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/liam-neeson-sean-penn-indie-film-theatrical-openings-1235871928/ |access-date=7 May 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=31 March 2024 |title='Late Night With The Devil' Possesses Week 2; Duo Of Indian Films Hits Top Ten – Specialty Box Office |url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/late-night-with-the-devil-indian-films-indie-box-office-1235872611/ |access-date=7 May 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

{{As of|2024|September|11}}, La chimera grossed $1 million in North America (USA, Canada and Puerto Rico), and $4,231,797 in other territories, for a worldwide total of $5.2 million.

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|94|8.2|142|consensus=If La Chimera is a wild, improbable pursuit, this marvelous and magical tale by Alice Rochrwacher is the pie in the sky to behold.|ref=yes|access-date=15 November 2024}} {{Metacritic film prose|91|31|ref=yes|access-date=29 May 2024}}

In his review for Variety, following its premiere at Cannes, Guy Lodge called the film "marvelously supple and sinuous" and commended Rohrwacher's direction, the cinematography and the cast performances, particularly O'Connor's, of which he wrote: "Raffish and boyish at the same time—or switching between either mode as a cover for the other—O'Connor's deft, droll performance implies such possibilities without sentimentalizing them".{{Cite web |last=Lodge |first=Guy |date=26 May 2023 |title='La Chimera' Review: Josh O'Connor Is a Grave Robber Seeking More Elusive Treasure in Alice Rohrwacher's Enchanting New Film |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/festivals/la-chimera-review-josh-oconnor-1235626068/ |access-date=26 May 2023 |website=Variety}} Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave the film five out of five stars, reporting that the film "totally occupies its own narrative space," depicting "a poignant sense of Italy as a treasure trove of past glories, a necropolitan culture of ancient excellence," through direction that is "exhilarating and celebratory in its utterly distinctive style."{{Cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Bradshaw |date=26 May 2023 |title=La Chimera review – Alice Rohrwacher's uproarious adventure teems with life |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/may/26/la-chimera-review-alice-rohrwacher-cannes |access-date=2 January 2024 |newspaper=The Guardian}}

The film was considered one of the best Italian film projects of 2023 by Italian critics.{{cite magazine |last=Barone |first=Martina |date=29 December 2023 |title=Bianco e nero, noir e documentari. Anche un pizzico di humor: tutto il meglio del cinema italiano del 2023 in 10 film (scelti dalla redazione) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.it/film/film-italiani/bianco-e-nero-noir-e-documentari-anche-un-pizzico-di-humor-tutto-il-meglio-del-cinema-italiano-del-2023-in-10-film-scelti-dalla-redazione-lista-classifica/77510/ |access-date=2 January 2024 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter Roma |language=it}}{{cite magazine |last=Santoni |first=Simona |date=28 December 2023 |title=I 10 film italiani più belli del 2023 |url=https://www.panorama.it/lifestyle/film-italiani-piu-belli-2023 |access-date=2 January 2023 |magazine=Panorama |language=it}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=29 December 2023 |title=I 23 migliori film usciti al cinema in Italia nel 2023 |url=https://tg24.sky.it/spettacolo/cinema/approfondimenti/migliori-film-2023 |access-date=2 January 2024 |publisher=Sky TG24 |language=it}} Alessandro De Simone of Ciak wrote that it is visible "an avowedly Pasolinian structure" in which the director inserts "a calculated anarchy in narrative and in staging," finding it overall "very simple, the chaos is orderly, fascinating and magical," although "it could have been more so."{{cite magazine |last=Simone |first=Alessandro De |date=27 May 2023 |title=Cannes 2023, La chimera, recensione del film di Alice Rohrwacher |url=https://www.ciakmagazine.it/recensioni/cannes-2023-la-chimera-recensione-del-film-di-alice-rohrwacher/ |access-date=2 January 2024 |magazine=Ciak |language=it}} Andrea Chimento of Il Sole 24 Ore described the project as Rohrwacher's "most ambitious and profound operation", which although it "spins too much in the middle part," emerges as "an intriguing and enigmatic film, endowed with a symbolic atmosphere that makes it a feature film worth thinking about and digesting."{{cite news |last=Chimento |first=Andrea |date=24 November 2023 |title="La chimera", segreti e misteri in un film carico di nostalgia |url=https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/film-uscita-cosa-vedere-cinema-fine-settimana-AFHik9jB |access-date=2 January 2024 |newspaper=Il Sole 24 Ore |language=it}}

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Category:2023 films

Category:2023 crime drama films

Category:2023 independent films

Category:Italian crime drama films

Category:Swiss crime drama films

Category:French crime drama films

Category:Films directed by Alice Rohrwacher

Category:Italian independent films

Category:Swiss independent films

Category:French independent films

Category:Neon (company) films

Category:Ad Vitam (company) films

Category:Films shot in Italy

Category:Rai Cinema films

Category:Arte France Cinéma films

Category:Films about archaeology

Category:Films set in Tuscany

Category:Films set in the 1980s

Category:Magic realism films