A One Mann’s Movies review of “La Chimera” (2024).
Alice Rohrwacher’s new film, “La Chimera”, is definitely an “arthouse” picture. You know that from the moment that the, slightly ragged, 4:3 framing appears on screen. The movie will no doubt bewitch some viewers and infuriate others and I have to admit that I experienced elements of both in my viewing. But it is a film with some memorable moments that will stay in my mind.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Arthur (Josh O’Connor) is an English archaeologist with a gift. He can detect hidden tombs underground by either using a divining rod or, sometimes, purely by walking over the sites. This skill is put to nefarious use by gangs of Italian graverobbers who are looking to aquire ancient Etruscan artifacts.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: NR. (From the BBFC web site: “Strong language”).
Talent:
Starring: Josh O’Connor, Carol Duarte, Vincenzo Nemolato, Isabella Rossellini, Yile Yara Vianello, Alba Rohrwacher.
Directed by: Alice Rohrwacher.
Written by: Alice Rohrwacher, Carmela Covino & Marco Pettenello.
Twitter Handle: #LaChimera.
Running Time: 2h 10m.
Arthur (Josh O’Connor) under the romantic attentions of the lovely Italia (Carol Duarte). (Source: Curzon).
“La Chimera” Summary:
Positives:
- Josh O’Connor is superb
- Luscious cinematography of a range of interesting locations in Italy.
- The direction is never short of surprising
- A mystical story.
Negatives:
- The film is about 20 to 30 minutes too long and some of the pacing is glacial at times.
Review of “La Chimera”:
Outrageous outfit
Think of Indiana Jones’s outfit: tough brown chinos and a brown leather jacket. Sensible clothes to go grubbing around in dirty and dusty tombs! Indiana Jones DID wear a white suit once… at the “Obi Wan” nightclub at the start of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”, but he quickly changed out of such ludicrous fits as he went into the wilds of India. Josh O’Connor’s Arther never got the memo! Here he wears an increasingly grubby cream suit and white shirt which must have created a devil of a job for the continuity team! It all adds to the character’s roguish charm!
Josh O’Connor extending his CV
Josh O’Connor is making a lot of intelligent choices about the films he is making. From period pieces like “Mothering Sunday” to popcorn blockbusters like “Challengers“, he is firmly making his mark with the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch and Andrew Scott as actors from the UK and Ireland that can be trusted to deliver whatever the genre. Here, as an actor, he gets a lot to play with. Arthur is a conflicted character, attracted to the Italian beauty Italia (Carol Duarte) but held back from intimacy due to his love for the mysterious Beniamina (Yile Yara Vianello) who is ‘gone’ and may or may not be coming back. It’s all beautifully played by O’Connor.
Stylish direction
I’m not familiar with Alice Rohrwacher’s previous work, but this film demonstrates a flair that constantly maintains your interest and keeps you on your cinematic toes. Interesting and provocative camera angles; inserted shots of animals and birds (reflecting the ‘Chimera’ theme); at one point, one of the characters, Melodie (Lou Roy-Lecollinet), randomly breaks the fourth wall and bemoans the lack of female equality in Italy! The storytelling is 90% ‘straight’ but a second reel scene on a train and the ambiguous finale opens up mystical elements to the story that surprise you.
Impressive locations and cinematography
It’s probably quite difficult to film ‘traditional’ Italian locations without them looking great and cinematographe Hélène Louvart certainly does a great job with the bucolic rural scenes. But the film again surprises with some of the locations used. Who would have though that a range of Eruscan tombs would be along the shoreline, next to a huge nuclear power station? These scenes are also impressively filmed by Louvart: it all manages to feel suitably bleak and cold.
Overlong and slow in places
I must admit that I saw this film as an afternoon matinee after a big lunch, which probably didn’t help. But some of the middle sections of the film really dragged and I found myself nodding off in my seat. I could hear the dialogue, most of which was in Italian (which I don’t know) and I’d suddenly jerk myself awake again thinking “Oh, no, I have to read the subtitles!”. I’d have wished for this glacial pace to have been tightened up somewhat and the film (at 130 minutes) reduced in length by 20 or 30 minutes.
The gang, off to confront the kingpin buyer Spartaco (Alba Rohrwacher). (Source: Curzon).
Summary Thoughts on “La Chimera”
An interesting film that will be somewhat Marmite for an average audience. Overall though, I enjoyed it.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “La Chimera”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkIC8YI9-eU .
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