I usually chose a lighter film on the plane but I just couldn’t pass out on La Chimera as I’ve been wanting to see this for some time. It turned out to be a good decision as it allowed me to get lost in a poetic world with a touch of magical realism for two hours.

Directed by Italian filmmaker Alice Rorhwacher based on a script she co-wrote with Carmela Covino & Marco Pettenello, the unusual premise involving a ragtag team of tombaroli (grave robbers) in rural Italy drew me. The man at the center of the story, Arthur (Josh O’Connor), is a scruffy ex-archaeologist turned tomb raider. We first catch a glimpse of him daydreaming on a train, heading back home fresh out of jail. Once he arrives, he quickly reconnects with his old crew who are all about plundering Etruscan tombs and antiquities from archaeological sites for profit. Yet the quiet, forlorn Arthur seems to be after something more.

Throughout the film, we see hints of his quest through recurring visions of a young woman and her red thread, first introduced in the opening scenes. This woman he has a hard time getting over is Beniamina, the daughter of an eccentric aristocrat, and former Opera singer named Flora (Isabella Rossellini) who lives in a dilapidated palazzo. When Arthur reunites with Flora, she clearly has an affinity for him and both still cling to memories of Beniamina. She’s been missing for some time, it’s not clear how long. The group of women who see Flora as a mother figure think Beniamina is dead but Flora still believes she’ll return. It’s a wish that Arthur shares, hence the title that means ‘the impossible dream’… a far-fetched notion one holds about something that probably won’t come true.

Rorhwacher crafts a universe where the past and present mix effortlessly. The movie keeps merging the boundaries between reality and imagination, between life and death. Rich with symbolism, it’s an emotionally stirring piece about such a deep sorrow that can’t be conveyed through words. The way O’Connor portrays Arthur’s anguish is somehow mesmerizing, clearly the heavy burden of grief erodes a fragment of his spirit with each passing day. His lethargic walk, his melancholic gaze, and how in tune he is with the world of the dead, he embodies Arthur beautifully. I read that the British actor learned Italian for the role and the film is told mostly in Italian with some English.

One of the supporting characters that sticks with me is Italia (Carol Duarte), Flora’s singing student who’s being treated like a servant as Flora doesn’t think she could sing. There’s a spark of connection between Arthur and Italia, and Arthur is sympathetic to her delicate situation when he uncovers her secret. A hint of romance develops, but the film shows how Arthur is simply too attached to the past which prevents him from enjoying the present.

You rarely come across films that are as beautifully enigmatic as this one. It almost feels like we’re watching several different stories. The message about the perils of capitalism is especially potent in the third act when Arthur’s gang discovers something precious. The plundered tomb, once filled with sacred treasures, has now lost its worth and can just be exchanged for money. Rorhwacher takes her time in letting things unfold in this deceptively complex story. The intentional lack of backstory on Arthur and his beloved Beniamina can be frustrating to some, but I think it adds to the mystery. It’s a haunting, slow-burn film that captures your attention and holds it tight until the very end. And that ending packs an emotional punch, even though it leaves a lot open to interpretation.

I was swept up in the beguiling world of La Chimera. The quirky characters, the raw beauty of Southern Tuscany, and most of all, the nature of grief itself which is both haunting and thought-provoking. It certainly makes me think about my own Chimera…

La Chimera is currently streaming on HULU

Have you seen La Chimera? I’d love to hear what you think!

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