“Call Me By Your Name” In theaters November 24th, 2017
“Call Me By Your Name” adapted from André Aciman’s 2007 novel is so much more than a coming of age story. It is a movie that explores family bonding, societal restrictions, teenage angst and of course experiencing love and desire for the first time. Directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Luca Guadagnino, James Ivory and Walter Fasano with cinematography by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom and shot on location in the northern Italian countryside. If you have never been to Italy then this movie will make you want to plan that next summer vacation. There are scenes where the cinematography lulls you into the idyllic mood with the characters as they sit for lunches and take baths in the river.
It’s the summer of 1983 and 17-year-old Elio (played by Timothee Chalamet) is spending time with his parents at their 17th Century Villa in Lombardy, Italy. When Oliver(played by Armie Hammer) a handsome doctoral intern arrives to work with Elio’s father, Elio’s world is slowly turned upside down.
Elio spends his time hanging without friends, transcribing and playing classical music, reading, and flirting with his friend Marzia (Esther Garrel). But with the arrival of Oliver into his world, Elio seems a bit angry and slightly jealous of all the attention that is showered on Oliver. But soon we see that underneath Elio’s attitude is a budding feeling of desire towards Oliver. It’s a slow building up of desire like watching coals heat up for the barbecue but Oliver who is older and wiser recognizes the danger of their attraction and tries to keep their budding friendship platonic.
The blossoming of the relationship is magical as the filmmaker allows the audience to be an integral part of the process. Some moments watching the film you might find yourself saying “go ahead Oliver kiss him”.
With superb performances from both Armie and Timothee, “Call Me By Your Name” is a sensual, sublime journey of experiencing desire and finding love. Even when the love you know will bring pain as explained by Elio’s dad (played by Michael Stuhlbarg) to embrace the pain but always remember the love.
“Call Me By Your Name” opens in theaters November 24th, 2017
