Based on the 2007 novel of the same name by Andre Aciman, “Call Me By Your Name” gets its odd title from a line during a romantic scene where the main character’s love interest tells him, “call me by your name . . . and I will call you by mine.” What sets this coming-of-age movie apart from your typical sappy Nicholas Sparks romance is the real emotions it evokes from viewers. The character, young and naive Elio (Timothee Chalamet) has a hopeless crush on smart and cocky Oliver (Armie Hammer). To make Oliver jealous, Elio starts a relationship with Marzia (Esther Garrel). It’s almost funny how Elio puts so much effort into making sure that Oliver knows about him and Marzia.
Set in Northern Italy in the summer of 1983, “Call Me By Your Name” features an American student, Oliver, who travels to Italy to assist a Jewish professor of Archaeology (Michael Stuhlbarg) while living with his family. 17-year-old Elio Perlman starts a seductive romance with Oliver who is seven years old and is a senior; the age difference between the characters has sparked controversy. Ann Hornaday, a movie critic for “The Washington Post,” responded by saying, “Before readers look up the Italian word for “problematic,” let it be noted that it is Elio, not Oliver, who is the pursuer in “Call Me By Your Name.” Elio is a young adult with intelligence exceeding his peers, yet he’s still struggling to understand the sexual tension between himself and Oliver. It’s not that Elio is not educated about same-sex attraction, but it is the fact that before Oliver came into the picture, Elio was very sure of his sexuality.
Although the movie explores the nature of youthful relations, whether it be friendships or more, it ignores the critical issue of what it means to be gay in a small Italian, Catholic town in the 1980s. But it also offers something that is rare in modern romance movies: simple, unproblematic family dynamics. Perlman’s family talks about art over dinner with guests, they have fresh breakfast together in the backyard every morning, and Elio is not some rebellious teenager. He kisses his mom and dad in the morning and lets his mom read him novels while he rests his head in his father’s lap. In an interview with “The Washington Post,” Luca Guadagnino who directed the film said, “Call Me By Your Name” is a movie about family for families.”
Elio and his family spend summers in countryside Italy where he spends his days reading books, transcribing music, swimming at the river in his backyard, going out at night, and in his words, “waiting for summer to end.” This movie honors archaeological artifacts, musical art, and natural beauty in ways that leave fans planning their very own Italian summer vacations.
“Call Me By Your Name” runs for over two hours with a few idle scenes here and there such as when Elio tries to engage in a conversation with Oliver about Chiara, who was in a casual relationship with Oliver. The conversation somehow ends up being about who should sit in the front seat on an archaeological trip with Elio’s father. However, what the movie lacks in timing, it makes up for in sound and music. Guadagnino combines Timothee Chalamet’s piano and guitar playing skills with Sufjan Steven’s musical talents. “Mystery of Love” and “Visions of Gideon” by Sufjan Stevens were a couple of tear-jerking songs that were featured.
