It has been a while since I last saw an Italian film, I feel much of my experience with the nation's cinema dates back to its much known artistic era of neorealism. I'm not sure why I haven't really managed to come across anything more modern in recent years, but I feel I haven't really looked either. Though, a few months back I did stumble across La Chimera, though the film wasn't out yet. I found its concept quite fascinating, being a film that looks as if it was shot way back in the 1960s on some gritty film stock. Particularly in its poster which resembles the era of hand painted art. A sort of unique noir style. Though the film itself doesn't follow entirely in that aesthetic, it instead does hold a lot of visually beautiful colours and aspect ratios to it. It's a very creative independent film, but not all that surprising given the nation it comes from. I'll speak more on the technicals later on, but from this point I can already say that La Chimera is a film that is beautiful in its visuals, the movements and attention to its camera as it interacts with the characters.
This is a film that seems like it belongs in a different era, heavy with its influences from the decades prior. Being a film that is riddled with style and aspects of fashion from another era. Though still very Italian. I think this instantly allows it to stand out in the sea of independent films attending the big film festivals each year. To be honest, I have kind of been a bit bored of the indie side of film recently, with so few films really speaking to me and grabbing my attention. Many of which being a bit too reliant on the present and the political situations around the world, making so many of the films just feel identical. La Chimera very quickly proved itself to be different, grabbing my attention within the first scene, and from there continuing to hold me. That isn't to say that this is a film for everyone, however, it's a bit of a long film and full of heavily artistic direction that may lose some people. You sort of have to know whether this is the sort of film you'd like before going on.
This review may feature a few spoilers here and there, though I will refrain from posting significant events with the story. Read on at your own discretion!
La Chimera
At its core, La Chimera is a film about a man that returns from jail into the decayed streets of Italy. His friendships reformed and his past of grave-digging yet again revived. This group of individuals relying on the artefacts that they discover from graves to survive, selling them on. It's an interesting story and setup for sure, particularly with the truly beautiful cinematography the film holds. Beneath its surface, however, is a story on loss, and the search for something more within life after loss has been experienced. I think we all have suffered at the hands of loss, knowing that pain that pierces deep within, often arising a series of questions regarding what life really is and what more there can be that brings this life back into something we can enjoy. It's a deeply existential and philosophical set of questions that come with loss, that thirst to find meaning again and move forward, though with that loss forever felt and returning, either from the present as more hardships are faced, or that former pain never really healing.
We get a look at the historic sides of Italy that have started to crumble, the loss of life within the area as decay enters and the signs of poor economics can be seen. This environment is dated, a mountainous region deep within history, deep with treasures from the many that have passed in the space. The homes our characters live within are themselves decaying, rustic and mould ridden. Crumbling down. It's clear that these characters live in such difficult times as the glory of their environments are no longer. The desperation to find value in the graves of those that had passed is something that isn't of joy. Though, in the case of our protagonist, who contributes to the robbing of graves, his former archaeology work plays in handy in the search for fresh graves with great fortune. Though his agenda is something considerably different to the rest that seek to earn a decent living, to some coincidence. Instead, it's the pursuit of something more, a sense of loss he is trying to deal with. The loss of a loved one.
Arthur is given a rather gentle looking nature. A character that doesn't seem like someone capable of ill-intent. A character that seems to be relatively quiet and generally quite kind. And this is where something more philosophical is found within him, his connection to death and loss, the pursuit of reconnection with his lost love. Arthur is a character that seems deeply troubled, with little care for his own health, slowly falling to pieces. wearing relatively rugged clothing, generally looking a bit poor and sleazy. I think it's a great look for a protagonist. One that really allows him to stand out in comparison to the rest, which tend to wear clothing that's more vibrant and holding more of an influence from the era of the 80s and 90s. And the film is certainly shot in a very nostalgic looking manner.
The aforementioned changes in the aspect ratio are used sparingly, giving changes to the scenes in which the film clearly is shot on a smaller format, 8mm film stock with lots of grit on the film, flares in the light from poor development and exposure to light. That typical nostalgic film look that shows parts of life for the characters, like a glimpse into the past. Though the rest of the film also looks a bit like this, the switch from different film formats and aspect ratios that differ up the cinematic look. Slow movements that are a little more wide, following characters through dimly lit rooms with beautiful music playing in the background. It gives a different look to the depth of the scenes, where we see a little bit more of the surroundings, their homes and struggles with the rotting wooden walls. The lack of light as everything seems shot under natural lighting conditions as light pours in through diffused drapery.
The moments show the simplicity of everyday life for the characters, a more gentle perspective into their surroundings. Which I think is a powerful contrast to the inevitable scene changes that detail the harsher actions of characters in the night digging up graves and searching through them for expensive goods. And with this comes the sadness of life itself. The fragility of it all, how people cling to life under different forms. There's tragedy in it all, watching as how graves are robbed while the dead remain idle, how life continues on for all those around as they celebrate their new wealth from the items stolen. With very little regard for the fact that they are in fact stealing from the dead. Our protagonist, however, remains in torment. Uninterested in the money side of things, refusing to celebrate with the rest.
The directing mixes up the use of music to make the acts of grave robbing look more like a culture. A challenge for the living to discover the items of the dead. It makes the living look like a pack of wild animals in search of something to hunt, though in the case of Arthur there's a genuine interest in the items and the connection between living and dead. How these items tells stories of the past and connect the dead to the living, easing some of his own loss and trauma. The directing also takes some comedic turns in parts, again using the techniques of filmmaking in the past. Sped-up footage as characters run and move around the environment. Almost cartoonish and animated movements within the frame. Resembling a lot of the comedy of the silent era of film. From a directing perspective, this film is genuinely beautiful. A really stunning use of lighting in the images.
The lighting being mostly natural looking and quite dark makes for artistic shots, and the camera is either fixed with beautiful perspectives as the characters walk towards the camera or enter the frame from different angles. Though the cinematography also takes advantage of movement. Really unique turns and pans, tracking shots of vehicles moving through bending Italian roads in the mountains, or simply just showing the happy little moments of life for the characters. Everything is beautifully craft. And it's definitely one of the most impressive films I have seen in a long time regarding the visuals.
I'd say this is a film definitely worth the watch. If you love independent cinema, creative storytelling, and narratives that look into human condition, you'll highly enjoy it!
