La Chimera

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1:56

La Chimera

2024

2h 10m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

153 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Everyone has their own Chimera, something they try to achieve but never manage to find. For the band of tombaroli, thieves of ancient grave goods and archaeological wonders, the Chimera means redemption from work and the dream of easy wealth. For Arthur, the Chimera looks like the woman he lost, Beniamina. To find her, Arthur challenges the invisible, searches everywhere, goes inside the earth -- in search of the door to the afterlife of which myths speak. In an adventurous journey between the living and the dead, between forests and cities, between celebrations and solitudes, the intertwined destinies of these characters unfold, all in search of the Chimera.

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Critics 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.

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Jessica Kiang

Sight & Sound

May 13, 2026

A joyous, masterful work of folk magic that plays like a discovery dug up from the ground where it has been for centuries, just waiting, in a rebellious reversal of that tragic shrine scene, to burst into full bloom before the gaze of living eyes.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

May 13, 2024

The film's got more than a hint of Fellini in it; a carnivalesque rogues galleria of faces...

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Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

May 12, 2024

5/5

The film’s riches come from Rohrwacher’s seemingly inexhaustible wealth of ideas...

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Christos Tsiolkas

The Saturday Paper

Sep 3, 2026

There is joy in so much of this film, coming in large measure from the roles of O’Connor and Duarte. They both give brave performances, unafraid to reveal the hostility and abrasiveness of their respective characters.

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Maxance Vincent

Movies We Texted About

Jan 6, 2026

3/5

Rorhwacher is a gifted visual artist, as evident in La Chimera’s poetic, almost ethereal approach to visual storytelling.

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Clotilde Chinnici

Movie Marker

Jul 27, 2025

4/5

La Chimera succeeds in not imposing any moral judgement on its characters, despite their dreadful action that anyone would normally frown upon.

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Shane E

Apr 15, 2024

It was mysterious and accidentally beautiful. It reminded me of what movies can be.

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elaine f

Apr 14, 2024

A sweet, funny, sad movie. Great actors (although the Italian gang was a little stereotypical). We could see it again since.

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Marshall

Apr 14, 2024

A film for the film lovers!! Parts of it reminded me of things Kubrick and Godard would do! Solid movie!!

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Marcos G

Apr 12, 2024

A poetic reflection on our dreams, our failures, and the unavoidable obstacles placed before us.

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Grant H

@dj530 Jul 8, 2026

When we translate Chimera, we realize we all have something we elect to achieve, but cannot quite reach. In the case of our tomb raider crew in Italy and their gifted empath, Arthur played by Josh O'Connor, it is a tragic love story that never comes to its full fruition. Beautifully shot and wonderfully written, this caper by Alice Rohrwacher is an underrated gem.

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Tom F

@RT55173143 Oct 24, 2025

An interestingly structured story of love and antiquity theft.

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Alice Rohrwacher

Director

Josh O'Connor

Arthur

Isabella Rossellini

Flora

Alba Rohrwacher

Spartaco

Luca Chikovani

Cico

Carol Duarte

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La Chimera: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Everyone has their own Chimera, something they try to achieve but never manage to find. For the band of tombaroli, thieves of ancient grave goods and archaeological wonders, the Chimera means redemption from work and the dream of easy wealth. For Arthur, the Chimera looks like the woman he lost, Beniamina. To find her, Arthur challenges the invisible, searches everywhere, goes inside the earth -- in search of the door to the afterlife of which myths speak. In an adventurous journey between the living and the dead, between forests and cities, between celebrations and solitudes, the intertwined destinies of these characters unfold, all in search of the Chimera.

Director: Alice Rohrwacher
Producer: Carlo Cresto-Dina, Eli Bush, Jeff Deutchman, Tom Quinn, Manuela Melissano, Alexandra Henochsberg, Pierre-François Piet, Michael Weber
Screenwriter: Alice Rohrwacher, Marco Pettenello, Carmela Covino
Distributor: NEON
Production Co: Ad Vitam Production, Arte, Amka Films Productions, RAI Cinema, Tempesta
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 29, 2024, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $998.7K
Runtime: 2h 10m

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