The Phillip Island Movie Club presents La Chimera at 7pm on Wednesday, April 17 at Berninneit.

An Italian film, written and directed by Alice Rohrwacher, La Chimera is a 2023 period romantic drama.

It stars Josh O'Connor (Arthur in The Crown) and Italian actor Isabella Rossellini.

La Chimera was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival (2023), where it premiered on May 26.

The word Chimera means an illusion or fabrication of the mind, especially an unrealisable dream – a fantasy, and that is what Arthur is chasing.

The story centres on a young British archaeologist who gets involved in an international network of stolen Etruscan artifacts during the 1980s.

For 2500 years nobody touched any of these artifacts as historically it was considered bad luck to touch them, because they belonged to the Etruscan souls.

Rohrwacher said she chose to tell the story because she was very surprised that all of a sudden, a generation came about that does not believe in anything anymore and they felt free to take anything, and to sell all these items.

She sees this as the start of touristic exploitation – the time when sacred items stop being considered sacred and become objects of commerce that could be sold and traded.

Margaret Byrne from the movie club described Rohrwacher as an auteur director, saying "the film works on many levels".

"For example, to capture the historical nature of the film she specifically uses period 116mm and 35mm film to highlight that.

"Rossellini also represents a time long past in Italian film and the actors speaking directly to the camera are recognition of Goddard's New Wave cinema that wanted to make people aware that they were watching a film and to look at it through political eyes. Everything has meaning."

Margaret said the film provoked mixed reactions and understanding the Director's intentions "can help us to see the film from their perspective and her perspective is to expose the growth of an entitled generation who are forever chasing their Chimera".

She urged members to book in. "You are in a movie club and variety is the spice of life!"

The film starts at 7pm and members should prebook their seat as bookings are already high.

La Chimera runs for two hours 10 mins and is rated M.

All PIMC films are now members-only events so bring your membership card and proof of booking.