Podtalk: Writer/Director Alice Rohrwacher on ‘La Chimera’

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CHICAGO – One of the heralded auteur filmmakers of the recent decade is Alice Rohrwacher. The Italian director joins her cinema forebears like Pier Paolo Pasolini and Federico Fellini, both of which she’s been favorable compared to, in creating unique and personal stories that resonant beyond their narrative. Her latest, opening at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre on April 5th, is “La Chimera.”

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Based on her memories as a child of Italy, the term “La Chimera” represents a pursuit that individuals have in the back of their minds and their lives that they somehow find elusive. Rohrwacher puts this in the context of a petty thief and English-speaking expatriate named Arthur (Josh O’Connor), out of jail but reverting back to his skill as a tomb raider for ancient Estrucian artifacts … in the 1980s this was a mania in Italy. His gang is looking for a quick score, but he is longing for an embrace of his lost girlfriend. The characters around him include the girlfriend’s eccentric mother Flora (Isabella Rossellini) and her music student Italia (Carol Duarte), as well as his wacky band of ne’er do wells, who are known to break out into song about his exploits.

La Chimera
Photo credit: Neon

There is such a passionate embrace of longing in the film, as each of the characters have their own “chimera” to pursue, and each come closer or farther away from it in their association with Arthur. Josh O’Connor, who is having a breakout moment with this film and the upcoming “Challengers,” imbues the artifact finder with a distinct and hangdog charm, who manages to keep finding treasures and getting rescued even when he seemingly doesn’t want it. The film has a cool fire at its core, and the hunger of the characters propel the emotional affinities to a spiritual clarity.

Alice Rohrwacher has been acclaimed since her debut narrative film “Corpo Celeste” (2011), which was nominated for a Golden Camera at the Cannes Film Festival. This was followed by “The Wonders” (2014, Cannes Grand Prix Jury Prize), “Happy as Lazzaro” (2018, Top Prize Gold Hugo at the Chicago International Film Festival) and the short film “Le Pupille” (2022, Oscar nominated Best Live Action Short). She is also well known for her association with notable cinematographer Hélène Louvart.

In Podtalk interview by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, translated by Lilo Pino Blkouin, writer/director Alice Rohrwacher gives perspective on “La Chimera” …

In a video clip, Rohrwacher talks her own chimera …

Trailer, “La Chimera” …

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Critic/Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com