La Chimera
Just out of jail, rumpled English archaeologist Arthur reconnects with his wayward crew of tombaroli accomplices – a happy-go-lucky collective of itinerant grave-robbers who survive by looting Etruscan tombs and fencing the ancient treasures they dig up.
The film earned $4.9M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
La Chimera (2023) showcases carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Alice Rohrwacher's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 11 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Arthur sleeps on a train, haunted by dreams of his lost love Beniamina. He exists in a liminal state between past and present, living as a reluctant tomb raider in 1980s Italy, unable to move forward from his grief.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Arthur encounters Italia's student, a young woman named (the character who will become his mirror), living in the crumbling villa. Her presence and the evolving situation with the tomb raiders creates a new dynamic that will pull Arthur into a different relationship with his present reality.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 33 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Arthur actively chooses to continue tomb raiding despite warnings and danger, fully committing to this underworld existence. He crosses deeper into the criminal network, accepting this half-life among thieves and the dead rather than confronting his grief., moving from reaction to action.
At 66 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat A major discovery or raid goes wrong, raising the stakes significantly. Either the authorities close in, the crew faces betrayal, or Arthur's visions become overwhelming. The carefree tomb raiding becomes dangerous, and Arthur realizes he cannot remain suspended between worlds indefinitely., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 98 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Italia dies, severing Arthur's last connection to Beniamina and the past he's been clinging to. This "whiff of death" represents the final loss of his phantom life. He is now truly alone, with no bridge between his past love and present reality., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 105 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Arthur makes final choices about his relationship to the tomb raiding world, to Italia's legacy, and to his own future. He may perform one last act that demonstrates his transformation—perhaps returning artifacts, helping the student, or symbolically releasing Beniamina. He steps into the light of the living world., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
La Chimera's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping La Chimera against these established plot points, we can identify how Alice Rohrwacher utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish La Chimera within the drama genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Arthur sleeps on a train, haunted by dreams of his lost love Beniamina. He exists in a liminal state between past and present, living as a reluctant tomb raider in 1980s Italy, unable to move forward from his grief.
Theme
Italia, an elderly woman who was Beniamina's mother, tells Arthur: "The dead are not meant to stay with the living." This establishes the film's central theme about letting go of the past and the danger of dwelling among ghosts.
Worldbuilding
We discover Arthur's world: a band of tombaroli (tomb raiders) who loot Etruscan graves, the aging villa of Italia where Arthur stays, and the black market antique trade. Arthur possesses an uncanny gift for sensing buried treasures, making him valuable to his criminal companions despite his melancholic detachment.
Disruption
Arthur encounters Italia's student, a young woman named (the character who will become his mirror), living in the crumbling villa. Her presence and the evolving situation with the tomb raiders creates a new dynamic that will pull Arthur into a different relationship with his present reality.
Resistance
Arthur continues raiding tombs with the crew while resisting deeper connection to the present. He debates internally whether to remain in his ghost-haunted existence or engage with the living world. The tension builds between his loyalty to the dead (Beniamina) and the possibilities of the present.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Arthur actively chooses to continue tomb raiding despite warnings and danger, fully committing to this underworld existence. He crosses deeper into the criminal network, accepting this half-life among thieves and the dead rather than confronting his grief.
Premise
The "fun and games" of tomb raiding: Arthur uses his divining gift to find Etruscan treasures, the crew celebrates their finds, they navigate the black market, and Arthur experiences moments of beauty in the ancient artifacts. Yet his visions of Beniamina intensify, and the line between past and present blurs.
Midpoint
A major discovery or raid goes wrong, raising the stakes significantly. Either the authorities close in, the crew faces betrayal, or Arthur's visions become overwhelming. The carefree tomb raiding becomes dangerous, and Arthur realizes he cannot remain suspended between worlds indefinitely.
Opposition
Pressure builds from multiple directions: law enforcement, fellow tomb raiders becoming more reckless, Italia's declining health, and Arthur's own psychological unraveling. His gift becomes a curse as he loses his ability to distinguish between the living and the dead. The student tries to reach him, but he withdraws further.
Collapse
Italia dies, severing Arthur's last connection to Beniamina and the past he's been clinging to. This "whiff of death" represents the final loss of his phantom life. He is now truly alone, with no bridge between his past love and present reality.
Crisis
Arthur wanders in grief and darkness, confronting the emptiness of his existence among tombs and ghosts. He faces the dark night of the soul, realizing that he has been burying himself alive, that his gift for finding the dead has kept him from living.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Arthur makes final choices about his relationship to the tomb raiding world, to Italia's legacy, and to his own future. He may perform one last act that demonstrates his transformation—perhaps returning artifacts, helping the student, or symbolically releasing Beniamina. He steps into the light of the living world.