Chimera — La
La Chimera (2023), directed by Alice Rohrwacher, is a moody, lyrical drama that blends archaeology, romance, and existential yearning into a quietly mesmerizing portrait of dislocation and reconstruction. Set in the Italian countryside near Rome, the film follows a young Englishman named Arthur (played by Josh O’Connor) who drifts through a life of aimless labor and furtive treasure-hunting, gradually surrendering to the fragile possibility of connection and meaning.
There is a moment about halfway through Alice Rohrwacher’s La Chimera where the protagonist, Arthur (Josh O’Connor), stands at the edge of an illegally dug tomb. He is a tomb robber, an tombarolo, in 1980s rural Tuscany. He has a strange, almost supernatural gift: he can feel the presence of underground chambers, a dowsing rod for death. In this moment, the camera doesn’t rush. It lingers. Dust motes swim in a beam of Etruscan light. Arthur lowers himself into the darkness. He is not looking for treasure. He is looking for her.
That is the central, aching irony of La Chimera. It is a film about men who dig up the past for profit, but it is really about one man who cannot stop digging for a ghost.
La Chimera is not a movie about answers. It is a movie about the holes we dig in search of them. It is a prayer for the missing, a love letter to the soil, and a warning to those who cannot stop staring at the rearview mirror.
Perhaps the Chimera is not a monster to be slain, but a part of us—the part that insists there is something else beneath the surface. Whether you come to La Chimera for Josh O’Connor’s raw performance, the breathtaking cinematography, or the haunting score by Apparat, you will leave with dirt under your fingernails and a tear in your eye.
Go see the Chimera. Just don’t try to bring her home.
Keywords used: La Chimera, Alice Rohrwacher, Josh O’Connor, Etruscan, tomb raiders, film review, streaming, mythology, 2023 film, Italian cinema.
This informative paper explores La Chimera (2023), the critically acclaimed film by Italian director Alice Rohrwacher
, which serves as a profound meditation on memory, the ethics of excavation, and the unattainable dreams that haunt the human soul. Little White Lies 1. Narrative Framework and Protagonist
Set in the 1980s in a small town on the Tyrrhenian Sea, the film follows
(played by Josh O’Connor), a British archaeologist with a mystical gift for "divining" the location of subterranean Etruscan treasures. The Tombaroli : Arthur is part of a band of (grave robbers) who loot ancient burial sites for profit. San Francisco Chronicle The Quest for Beniamina
: Unlike his companions, who seek material wealth, Arthur is driven by a desire to find his lost love, Beniamina, whom he believes is waiting for him in the afterlife. The Guardian 2. Etymology and Symbolism The title "La Chimera" carries multiple layers of meaning: The Hidden Treasures of La Chimera - Video Essay
The most recent and globally recognized use of the title is the 2023 film La Chimera, directed by Alice Rohrwacher. The film stars Josh O'Connor as Arthur, a British archaeologist with a supernatural "dowining" ability to sense buried Etruscan treasures.
The Plot: Set in the 1980s in a fictionalized version of Tuscany, the story follows a gang of tombaroli (tomb raiders) who pillage ancient graves for profit. While his companions seek wealth, Arthur is haunted by his own "chimera"—a lost love named Beniamina.
Themes: The film explores the tension between the sacred past and the commodified present. A central scene depicts a pristine tomb being opened, only for the ancient frescos to fade instantly upon contact with modern air—a metaphor for how the past cannot truly be returned to, only "fetishized".
Reception: Critics have praised its "playful, peculiar grace" and its critique of patriarchy and machismo. It was featured as one of the Best Movies of 2024 by Screen Slate. 2. The Historical Novel by Sebastiano Vassalli
In literature, La Chimera (1990) is a seminal historical novel by Sebastiano Vassalli. It reimagines the true story of Antonia, a 17th-century foundling in a Piedmontese village who is eventually tried and executed for witchcraft.
Social Commentary: Vassalli uses the narrative to examine how societies construct falsehoods and scapegoat the "other" to maintain order.
Literary Significance: The book won the prestigious Strega Prize and is often compared to Manzoni’s The Betrothed for its meticulous historical research and its exploration of divine justice vs. human corruption. 3. Poetry: Dino Campana’s "La Chimera"
The title also refers to one of the most famous poems by the "maudit" Italian poet Dino Campana, included in his 1914 collection Canti Orfici.
The Symbol: In Campana's work, the Chimera represents a vanishing, nocturnal beauty—an elusive ideal of art and femininity that the poet seeks but can never grasp.
Context: It is often studied alongside the works of D’Annunzio, though Campana’s style is uniquely visceral and fragmentary. 4. Cultural Symbolism: The Chimera of Arezzo
At its roots, the "Chimera" is a foundational piece of Italian heritage through the Chimera of Arezzo, an Etruscan bronze statue dating back to the 4th century BC. It depicts a lion with a goat's head rising from its back and a snake for a tail. This artifact serves as a literal bridge between the ancient world and the modern Italian identity, often cited as a masterpiece of ancient metalwork. Comparison of Key Works Author/Director Perspective Film (2023) Alice Rohrwacher The Buried Past Magical realism and the ethics of archaeology. Novel (1990) Sebastiano Vassalli Institutional Injustice La Chimera
A critique of religious fanaticism and "all-encompassing falsehoods". Poem (1914) Dino Campana Artistic Obsession The elusive nature of beauty and poetic inspiration.
Whether through Arthur’s hunt for artifacts or Antonia’s struggle against the Inquisition, La Chimera serves as a recurring title for stories about the human desire to reach for something that might not exist, or that perhaps should remain untouched. Portal de Revistas da USPhttps://revistas.usp.br La Chimera di Dino Campana e Altre Chimere
La Chimera (2023), directed by the singular Alice Rohrwacher, is an enchanting archaeological romance that serves as the final installment of her "trilogy of the Tuscia". Set in the 1980s, the film follows Arthur, a rumpled English archaeologist played by Josh O'Connor, who joins a wayward crew of tombaroli (grave robbers) to unearth and sell ancient Etruscan treasures. Thematic Depth and Mythology
The title itself, La Chimera, draws from Greek mythology—a fire-breathing monster made of disparate animal parts—symbolizing something bizarre, implausible, or a dream with little chance of realization. For Arthur, the "chimera" is twofold:
The Unseen: A spiritual quest for the soul of his lost fiancée and a connection to the afterlife.
The Material: The literal search for hidden gold and ancient artifacts beneath the earth.
Rohrwacher weaves a rich tapestry of mythological influences, referencing figures like Orpheus and Ariadne to explore how we bear the weight of the past while living in the present. Artistic Vision and Style
The film is celebrated for its "cinema of poetry," utilizing distinct visual motifs and a unique perspective on time as an interconnected process.
Sensory Experience: The cinematography features intimate moments, such as the use of honey to mend broken pottery, emphasizing a "haptic" connection to history.
Social Critique: Beneath its fairytale-like surface, the film offers a critique of patriarchy and machismo, focusing instead on care for the earth and all living beings.
Spiritual Connection: It contrasts the modern detachment from spirituality with the Etruscan view that life after death is more meaningful than life itself. Critical Reception
Considered one of the best movies of 2024, La Chimera has been praised for its unconventional defiance of generic conventions. Critics from the New Yorker describe it as an "enchanting archaeological romance" that successfully eradicates the difference between the past and the present. Other Notable References
While the 2023 film is the most prominent contemporary use of the term, "La Chimera" also refers to: The New Yorker The Enchanting Archeological Romance of “La Chimera”
The 2023 film La Chimera , directed by Alice Rohrwacher, is a haunting and whimsical exploration of memory, grief, and the ethics of the past. Set in 1980s rural Italy, it follows Arthur, a bedraggled English archaeologist played by Josh O’Connor, who uses his supernatural gift for "divining" to lead a ragtag group of grave robbers (known as tombaroli). Key Themes & Symbols
The "Impossible Dream": The title refers to a chimera—an unattainable wish or illusion. For Arthur, this is his desperate longing to reunite with his lost love, Beniamina.
The Red Thread: A recurring motif in Arthur’s dreams is a red thread trailing from Beniamina’s dress, symbolizing a fragile spiritual connection between the worlds of the living and the dead.
The Beige Suit: Arthur wears a rumpled, cream-colored linen suit throughout the film. Some interpret its progressive state of decay as a reflection of Arthur’s own internal "internal decay" and detachment from the present.
"Not for Human Eyes": A pivotal moment occurs when the gang discovers an untouched Etruscan shrine. The character Italia declares the treasures are "not made for human eyes, but for souls' eyes," highlighting the moral conflict of disturbing the dead for profit.
Part I: Ethics of Excavation - 'La Chimera' and Constructing Concern
Alice Rohrwacher's 2023 film La Chimera blends realism with magical elements to follow a dejected English archaeologist (Josh O'Connor) navigating the 1980s Italian underworld of tomb raiding, or tombaroli. The critically acclaimed film is recognized for its unique visual texture, created through mixed film formats to explore themes of loss and the blurred lines between the past and present. For a detailed critique, read The Guardian's review.
Alice Rohrwacher's La Chimera (2023) is a dreamlike excavation of memory, grief, and the weight of history. Set in 1980s Tuscany, it follows Arthur (Josh O'Connor), a disheveled British archaeologist with a supernatural gift: he can "divine" the locations of ancient Etruscan tombs using a dowsing rod. The Quest for the Impossible
The film's title refers to a "chimera"—a mythological beast made of disparate parts, representing an unattainable dream or a dangerous illusion. La Chimera (2023), directed by Alice Rohrwacher, is
For the "tombaroli": Arthur's ragtag gang of grave-robbers, the chimera is the dream of easy wealth and a shortcut out of poverty.
For Arthur: His chimera is his lost love, Beniamina. While his companions dig for gold to sell to shadowy dealers like the mysterious Spartaco (Alba Rohrwacher), Arthur digs to find a "door to the afterlife" to reunite with the woman who haunts his dreams. Themes of Life and Death
The film beautifully balances two opposing forces, often through the women in Arthur’s life:
Part I: Ethics of Excavation - 'La Chimera' and ... - Viloves
Directed by Alice Rohrwacher, this acclaimed drama follows Arthur (Josh O'Connor), a British archaeologist in 1980s Italy who possesses a supernatural gift for locating ancient Etruscan tombs. Pull the Red Thread: On Alice Rohrwacher's “La chimera”
For academic or in-depth reading on Alice Rohrwacher's 2023 film La Chimera
, several high-quality papers and essays explore its themes of archaeology, myth, and the ethics of the past. Academic & Analytical Papers
"Layers of Meaning, Layers of Earth: Necro-Eco-Mythical Perspectives and Traces of the Past in Alice Rohrwacher's 'La Chimera'": This recent scholarly paper (March 2026) provides a deep dive into the film’s "necro-eco-mythical" themes, examining how the movie handles the literal and spiritual layers of Italian history.
"The Orphic Search for Eurydice in Alice Rohrwacher's La Chimera": A specialized academic analysis that connects the film to the mythological descent of Orpheus into the underworld, highlighting the protagonist Arthur's search for his lost love, Beniamina.
"Ethics of Excavation": This piece from Viloves on Substack utilizes a humanities background to explore the moral complexities of grave robbing and human intervention in the affairs of the dead. Noteworthy Film Essays
If you are looking for long-form critical writing, these sources offer sophisticated analysis: Pull the Red Thread ": An insightful essay in the LA Review of Books
that discusses the film's visual language and its "red thread" symbolism. At the Movies: La Chimera ": A feature by Michael Wood in the London Review of Books
that places the film within the context of classic world cinema and Rohrwacher's previous work. My Roman Empire
": An emotional and thematic deep dive into the film’s portrayal of grief and loss, available at Bright Wall/Dark Room. Literary Alternative
If you meant the classic Italian novel, you may be looking for: La Chimera
by Sebastiano Vassalli: A historical novel set in the 17th century about a young woman accused of witchcraft, known for its vivid portrayal of superstition and social environment in rural Italy. Pull the Red Thread: On Alice Rohrwacher's “La chimera”
Directed by Alice Rohrwacher, this film follows Arthur (Josh O'Connor), a British archaeologist with a supernatural gift for sensing Etruscan tombs. The Narrative: Set in 1980s Tuscany, Arthur joins a ragtag group of
(grave robbers) who plunder ancient treasures to sell on the black market. The Symbolism:
The "Chimera" represents an unattainable dream. For Arthur, it is the hope of finding his lost love, Beniamina, by locating a door to the afterlife. Preparation Insight: Lead actor Josh O'Connor prepared for the role by keeping a personal scrapbook
containing drawings, moss, and a poem from the director to connect with the film's themes of death and the unseen. 2. The Novel: La Chimera by Sebastiano Vassalli (1990)
This historical novel is considered a masterpiece of contemporary Italian literature.
Based on a true historical record, it tells the story of Antonia, an orphan girl in 17th-century Piedmont who is eventually accused of witchcraft and tried by the Inquisition. The Theme: Rohrwacher shoots La Chimera on a glorious mix
The book critiques the cruelty and religious fanaticism of the past, using the "Chimera" as a metaphor for the illusions and dark myths that societies build to justify persecution. 3. The Poem: " La Chimera " by Dino Campana A cornerstone of Italian Orphic poetry from the collection Canti Orfici
The poem is a visionary, dreamlike invocation of a mysterious female figure—the Chimera—who represents beauty, artistic inspiration, and the elusive nature of the soul. The Style:
It is known for its "stravolta" (distorted) syntax and archaic, intoxicating language that blurs the lines between reality and myth.
Which version of "La Chimera" would you like a more detailed analysis or summary for? AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
Unearthing the Intangible: The Haunting Beauty of Alice Rohrwacher’s La Chimera
In the sun-bleached, grit-covered landscape of 1980s Tuscany, a man in a rumpled white linen suit wanders through tall grass, a dowsing rod in hand. This is Arthur, the melancholy heart of Alice Rohrwacher’s La Chimera, a film that feels less like a traditional narrative and more like a half-remembered dream unearthed from the Italian soil.
The title itself—La Chimera—carries a dual meaning that perfectly encapsulates the film's spirit. In Italian, it refers to a "hope without foundation," a dream that can never be realized. For the tombaroli (grave robbers) Arthur leads, the chimera is the easy wealth hidden in Etruscan tombs. For Arthur, it is something far more elusive: the face of his lost love, Beniamina. A Tale of Two Worlds
La Chimera follows Arthur (played with a weary, soulful grace by Josh O’Connor), a British archaeologist with a supernatural "gift" for sensing the hollow spaces where ancient treasures lie. Recently released from prison, he returns to his band of merry, law-breaking companions who strip the earth of its history to sell it on the black market.
The film thrives on the friction between several contrasting elements:
The Sacred vs. The Profane: The tombaroli view the artifacts—statues, jewelry, and pottery—as mere commodities. Yet the film treats these items with a sacred reverence, reminding us they were never meant for human eyes, but for the souls of the dead.
The Past vs. The Present: Set in the 1980s, a decade "drunk on the dream of infinite growth," the film explores how modern greed erodes our connection to heritage.
Materialism vs. Memory: While the gang seeks gold, Arthur seeks a "red thread" that might lead him back to Beniamina. His thievery isn't driven by greed, but by a desperate wish to resurrect what is gone. The Visual Language of Magic Realism
Director Alice Rohrwacher and cinematographer Hélène Louvart utilize a unique visual style to blur the lines between reality and myth. By mixing 35mm, 16mm, and Super 16 film formats, they create a texture that feels both ancient and immediate.
DP Hélène Louvart AFC mixed 35mm and 16mm formats and aspect…
Alice Rohrwacher's 2023 film La Chimera is a multi-layered exploration of memory, heritage, and the thin line between the living and the dead. Set in 1980s Tuscany, it follows Arthur, a British archaeologist with a supernatural "gift" for locating ancient Etruscan tombs, as he navigates a world of impoverished grave robbers ( ) and lost love.
The following sections provide an overview of the film's central themes and artistic execution. 1. The Mythological and Metaphysical Journey
The film functions as a "modern-day fairy tale" that blends gritty realism with magical elements. The Hidden Treasures of La Chimera - Video Essay
Rohrwacher shoots La Chimera on a glorious mix of 16mm film and grainy video, switching aspect ratios and film stocks with a magician’s sleight of hand. The above-ground world—the sun-bleached hills, the train stations, the chaotic marketplaces—is rendered in warm, slightly faded Kodak tones. It feels real, but also like a memory fading at the edges.
Then there is the underground.
When Arthur descends into a tomb, the film shifts. The color drains. The image becomes vertical, narrow, suffocating. The camera becomes still, almost ceremonial. We are no longer watching a heist. We are watching a séance. Arthur does not smash and grab. He moves with the reverence of a priest entering a sacristy. He uncovers a fresco of a winged demon; the demon seems to look back at him. He finds a sarcophagus and, instead of prying it open for gold, he rests his forehead against the cold stone. He is not a thief. He is a mourner who has mistaken archaeology for necromancy.
The other tombaroli want profit. Arthur wants a portal.
