La Chimera (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
La Chimera is a 2024 adventure comedy directed by Alice Rohrwacher, starring Josh O'Connor as Arthur, Yile Yara Vianello and Alba Rohrwacher. It runs 2 hours 10 minutes and earned $5.2 million worldwide on a $9.6 million budget. Critics gave it 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 91 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 10m (130 min)
- Director
- Alice Rohrwacher
- Original language
-
Italian - Studio
- Tempesta
- Budget
- $9.6M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is La Chimera About?
The premise of La Chimera without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
A group of treasure hunters, known as tombaroli, search for ancient riches, hoping to escape their ordinary lives and find a path to wealth. For Arthur, the search is also a personal quest to reconnect with his lost love, Beniamina. This pursuit leads him on a journey of self-discovery and longing as he navigates the complexities of his past and the allure of a lost connection.
La Chimera Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- 1980s
- archaeologist
- grave robber
- italy
- tuscany italy
- upside down view
- train
- stolen artefact
- release from prison
- etruscan
- ancient tomb
- black market
+38 more Show fewer
- title directed by female
- urination
- tomb
- finding a tomb
- statue
- digging
- dancing
- dramedy
- cigarette smoking
- year 1980
- period drama
- period piece
- lost love
- fable
- aristocrat
- earthenware
- cautionary tale
- etruscan vase
- group
- f rated
- sleeping in a train
- taking a photograph
- fire
- singing
- playing accordion
- sheep
- herd of sheep
- old woman
- woman uses a wheelchair
- cemetery
- breaking a statue
- broken statue
- statue head
- headless statue
- impersonation
- cop impersonation
- train station
- children
La Chimera Cast & Characters
Josh O'Connor leads the cast as Arthur, with Yile Yara Vianello as Beniamina and Alba Rohrwacher as Spartaco. Directed by Alice Rohrwacher; 20 actors are credited in all.
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Director Alice Rohrwacher
-
Josh O'Connor as Arthur - Yile Yara Vianello as Beniamina
-
Alba Rohrwacher as Spartaco -
Isabella Rossellini as Flora
Also Starring in La Chimera
· 16 more- Carol Duarte Italia
- Lou Roy-Lecollinet Melodie
- Vincenzo Nemolato Pirro
- Barbara Chiesa Nella
- Chiara Pazzaglia Rossa
- Ramona Fiorini Fabiana
- Elisabetta Perotto Vera
- Francesca Carrain Sista
- Luciano Vergaro Katir
- Carlo Tarmati Carabiniere
- Giuliano Mantovani Jerry
- Gian Piero Capretto Mario
- Melchiorre Pala Melchiorre
- Luca Gargiullo Il portuale
- Valentino Santagati Cantastorie
- Piero Crucitti Cantastorie
La Chimera Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave La Chimera 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 91 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 89/100, strongest in art & craft (92) and weakest in story & flow (80).
La Chimera Echo Score Breakdown
La Chimera stands out for its meticulous artistry and atmospheric immersion. The film's direction combines folkloric imagery with disciplined framing, offering a textural richness. Character portrayals and emotional beats, while centered on a single protagonist, deliver poignant moments that resonate beneath the film's dreamlike surface. The narrative unfolds with frequent surprises, though its deliberate pacing requires attentive engagement. Overall, the balance of visual craftsmanship and emotional depth yields a cohesive work with enduring appeal.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 92
In terms of Art & Craft, La Chimera exhibits exemplary visual composition and directorial precision. The cinematography's folkloric textures and disciplined framing evoke both earthbound grit and otherworldly magic. Formalist editing and production design reinforce a cohesive aesthetic that feels both grounded and mystical. As a result, the film's artful craftsmanship consistently elevates its thematic and narrative ambitions.
- Character & Emotion 86
In terms of Character & Emotion, the film offers nuanced performances centered on its protagonist. Reviews note the central portrayal delivers poignant and witty moments, though some supporting figures receive limited development. Emotional resonance arises from moments of gentle humor and reflective introspection, even as the focus remains tightly on one main figure. Ultimately, the character work provides sufficient depth to anchor the film's dreamlike journey.
- Story & Flow 80
In terms of Story & Flow, the narrative unfolds with enigmatic rhythms and measured pacing. Critics highlight the film's originality through unexpected imagery and symbolic archaeology, though its deliberate tempo demands active viewer engagement. Plot coherence is maintained by recurring thematic motifs, even as dreamlike transitions occasionally obscure chronological clarity. Overall, the film delivers a distinctive and thought-provoking storyline that rewards attentive viewing.
- Sensory Experience 90
In terms of Sensory Experience, La Chimera envelops the viewer with a rich soundscape and cohesive visual palette. The score and sound design interweave subtle whispers and rustic ambiance, enhancing the film's folkloric atmosphere. Visually, the understated color choices and tactile production design reinforce an immersive realism that borders on enchantment. Together, these elements craft a consistently engaging sensory environment.
- Rewatch Factor 90
In terms of Rewatch Factor, the film's layered imagery and enigmatic narrative invite repeat viewings. Viewers can discover new symbolic details and refinements in the editing with each successive watch. The blend of formal flourishes and folkloric undertones reveals additional subtleties over time. Consequently, La Chimera possesses a lasting appeal that rewards audiences seeking to unpack its intricate design.
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Rotten Tomatoes 95% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 74%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 91 Metascore
User score 7.4
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 73% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 4.1 /5
327281 ratings
See on Letterboxd
La Chimera Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in La Chimera from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Arthur, a once-respected British archaeologist, finds himself back in Italy after serving time in prison for stealing precious artifacts from ancient tombs. His illegal dealings were primarily orchestrated with an art dealer named Spartaco. Upon his return, Arthur seeks refuge at the family home of his ex-girlfriend, Flora, where he unexpectedly meets Italia, Flora’s live-in maid and her student. The shadow of his past looms large as Beniamina, his former love, has gone missing under mysterious circumstances, yet Flora remains steadfast in her belief that she will return one day.
Full summary
The whole story of La Chimera, scene by scene, with the ending explained
La Chimera Box Office & Budget
La Chimera grossed $5.2 million worldwide on a $9.6 million budget, 55% of what it cost. $1 million came from the US and Canada and $4.2 million (81%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$5.2M
55% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $1M
- International
- $4.2M
- Budget
- $9.6M
La Chimera Trailers & Videos
17 videos: 3 trailers, 1 teaser, 4 clips and 9 featurettes.
- Trailer Trailer [Subtitled]
- Trailer Official US Trailer [Subtitled]
- Teaser In Cinemas 10 May [Subtitled]
- Clip Clip
How Well Do You Know La Chimera?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What was Arthur arrested for?
Cars in La Chimera
20 cars on screen, including the 1980 Fiat 127 5p and the 1976 Fiat 616 N3.
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1980 Fiat 127 5p Main role -
1976 Fiat 616 N3 Minor role -
1983 Fiat Ritmo Minor role -
Hyster J 2.00 XMT Minor role
La Chimera Also Known As
18 alternative titles, including “A Quimera” and “Химера”.
- Also known as
-
- A Quimera
- Химера
- לה צ'ימרה
- La Quimera
- 奇美拉
- 墓泥棒と失われた女神
- Haka Dorobō to Ushinawareta Megami
- Η χίμαιρα
- La Chimère
- 키메라
- Chiméra
- לה כימרה
+6 more Show fewer
- 盜墓奇美拉
- คิเมร่าสุดขอบฟ้า
- Chimären
- La Chimera – sielujen aarteet
- A kiméra
- Kimäär
Seen La Chimera?
Movies Like La Chimera
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including L’Atlantide, Forbidden Dreams and The Tale of King Crab.
La Chimera FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of La Chimera, each answered in a sentence.
How long is La Chimera?
La Chimera runs 2 hours 10 minutes (130 minutes).
When was La Chimera released?
La Chimera was released on March 29, 2024.
Who directed La Chimera?
La Chimera was directed by Alice Rohrwacher.
More films by Alice Rohrwacher Who is in the cast of La Chimera?
La Chimera stars Josh O'Connor as Arthur, Yile Yara Vianello as Beniamina and Alba Rohrwacher as Spartaco, among 20 credited actors.
How much did La Chimera make at the box office?
La Chimera grossed $5.2 million worldwide ($1 million domestic, $4.2 million international) on a budget of $9.6 million.
How is La Chimera rated?
La Chimera has 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 91 on Metacritic, 73% on TMDB and 4.1/5 on Letterboxd.
Does La Chimera have a post-credit scene?
No. La Chimera has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is La Chimera in?
The original language of La Chimera is Italian.
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