Overview
A whimsical journey through the underbelly of archaeology, where the past collides with the present in unexpected ways.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- dreamy
- wistful
- playful
- reflective evening
- arthouse film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Alice Rohrwacher's distinctive magical-realist direction, lyrical cinematography, ensemble performances, and poignant engagement with Italy's buried past.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Arthur's dowsing, enchanted discoveries, and uncanny events are presented alongside ordinary criminal and domestic routines.
Arthur's treasure hunting and restless drift are bound to an unresolved personal absence and the excavation of buried pasts.
The grave-robbing collective excavates Etruscan tombs and fences ancient treasures through illicit networks.
The film mixes burlesque criminal episodes, enigmatic symbolism, and shifting tonal registers within a carefully composed structure.
Films like La Chimera, and why
The Wonders
shared magical realism, rural Italian setting, wistful atmosphere, and collision between folklore and modern life
The Science of Sleep
shared playful surrealism, melancholic longing, eccentric community, and dreamlike Mediterranean textures
The Spirit of the Beehive
shared poetic magic realism, buried history, restless outsiders, and emotionally elusive storytelling
Movie Details
- Director
- Alice Rohrwacher
- Release Date
- 2023-10-12
- Runtime
- 131 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (633)
Cast
- Josh O'Connor
- Carol Duarte
- Alba Rohrwacher
- Isabella Rossellini
- Vincenzo Nemolato
- Lou Roy-Lecollinet
- Giuliano Mantovani
- Gian Piero Capretto
- Melchiorre Pala
- Ramona Fiorini
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is La Chimera about?
- A grieving English archaeologist joins a comic band of Etruscan tomb robbers in a dreamlike Italian odyssey where buried relics mirror buried longing.
- What is La Chimera like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of La Chimera as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is La Chimera violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in La Chimera as mild.
- What did critics think of La Chimera?
- Critics broadly praised Alice Rohrwacher's distinctive magical-realist direction, lyrical cinematography, ensemble performances, and poignant engagement with Italy's buried past.
- Which films are like La Chimera?
- Films with a similar feel include The Wonders, The Science of Sleep, and The Spirit of the Beehive.
- How long is La Chimera?
- La Chimera runs 131 minutes.
- Where can I watch La Chimera?
- In United States, La Chimera is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
