With a lot of Hollywood buzz and four nominations for the upcoming Academy Awards, “Call Me By Your Name” invites high expectations. The film exceeds those expectations, though, as the stunning drama romance invites audiences to laugh and cry along with an exceptional cast.
The story, taking place in the early 1980s, follows Elio (Timothée Chalamet, “Lady Bird”), an intelligent and cultured 17 year-old spending the summer with his family on an apricot orchard in Northern Italy. While he usually passes time transcribing and playing music, reading and swimming, Elio’s focus shifts upon the arrival of his father’s summer research assistant, Oliver (Armie Hammer, “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”). The two men, amidst the heat of summer and despite flirtations with local women, slowly grow closer, forming a complex, exciting and explorative relationship. It is, of course, on a time limit, as the summer has to end, but Elio and Oliver enjoy their weeks together, discovering themselves and what it’s like to navigate homosexuality and relationships in 1980s Italy.
Perhaps it’s the quaint Italian setting or the small pieces of ’80s nostalgia that appear, but “Call Me By Your Name” feels almost like a smaller-scale indie-style film, exploring relationships in similar fashion to films like “Blue is the Warmest Color” or “A Man Called Ove.” The cinematography and overall simplicity of the wardrobe and dialogue combine to make a film that’s impossible not to fall in love with.
Not only is the film incredibly well-shot and well-written, it is also exceptionally real. Chalamet, a relatively new face in Hollywood, steals the show, delivering a simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming performance full of wit and curiosity. He captures the pain of growing up and self-discovery while also just being genuinely likeable and fun. Hammer is excellent alongside him, full of charisma and authenticity. Elio’s parents are crowd favorites, as their somewhat surprising acceptance and kindness toward Elio and Oliver is very welcome.
While “Call Me By Your Name” is definitely not a family film, it’s a fantastic coming-of-age film for more mature audiences. Even with scarce moments of ambiguity and confusion, watching it is such an enjoyable and memorable experience; one leaves the theater stunned and grieving from watching the long close up of Elio crying as the credits roll, but also aching for the world of beauty, innocence, romance and foreign adventure that “Call Me By Your Name” fearlessly showcases.
The film comes highly recommended and is now playing in theaters everywhere.
