La Chimera
La Chimera
Just out of jail, crumpled English archaeologist Arthur reconnects with his wayward crew of accomplices - a happy-go-lucky collective of grave-robbers who survive by looting Etruscan tombs and fencing the ancient treasures they dig up.
Kevin Ward reviewedJuly 1, 2025
Arthur (Josh O’Connor), a British archaeologist fresh out of prison, drifts through rural Italy, with a troupe of grave robbers who loot ancient burial sites for profit. Haunted by the memory of his lost love and burdened by his own moral decay, he follows a personal, almost mythical quest for something just out of reach.
Alice Rohrwacher crafts a dreamlike, wandering narrative that feels both weightless and deeply textured, like sifting through soil in search of lost history. O’Connor is mesmerizing—there’s something feral about his performance, as you can almost smell the grime on his clothes and skin. Didn’t realize Isabella Rossellini was in this when I started it. She is such a lovely presence on screen and gives a terrific performance here. The film is visually stunning, a painterly meditation on longing, decay, and the ghosts of the past.