Call Me by Your Name

2017’s “Call Me by Your Name“, directed by Luca Guadagnino.

Starring Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, and Esther Garrel.

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Actor (Timothée Chalamet),

Best Adapted Screenplay (James Ivory), and Best Musical Song (Sufjan Stevens).

What is it about?

“Call Me By Your Name” is set in Northern Italy during the summer of 1983. Young man Elio (Timothée Chalamet), lives at the family summer home with his professor father and mother (Michael Stuhlbarg and Amira Casar). Stuhlbarg invites graduate student Oliver (Armie Hammer) to live with them and intern for him for the summer. Elio and Oliver don’t exactly hit it off initially, but as the languid days of idle summer drift along, an attraction develops. Will Elio and Oliver be able to explore their feelings?

Why is it worth seeing?

Director Luca Guadagnino has called “Call Me By Your Name” the third feature of his “Desire Trilogy” (the first 2 being 2009’s breathtaking “I am Love” and 2015’s “A Bigger Splash”). Using the historical and nature packed areas of Crema, Guadagnino delivers that sun dappled days of leisure quality to a same sex love story that is as patient as it is ephemeral.

Screenwriter (and film icon) James Ivory has things develop at a summer vacation pace, which is saying something for a European culture depicted here where things don’t quite move at the same pace as North America. Something resembling (upper class) decadence and pursuit of La Dolce Vita’s slow food pace of life is favoured- and that’s in between the relaxation. From this viewpoint comes a love story that takes it’s time.

Chalamet and Hammer initially come together and aren’t that fond of each other, but as they spend time together in close quarters things start to happen. Hammer and especially Chalamet are very strong in delivering the herky jerky inertia of trying to deny their feelings- and are almost as strong as Stuhlbarg, in his quietly potent performance as the professor father who is smarter than he lets on.

While the subject matter is admirable, and the performances earnest amongst a lovely setting, “Call Me Your Name”’s greatest strength is in capturing the fleeting moments of a summer fling that can never be forgotten.  However, it’s pacing and characters can be difficult to relate to, before one even considers the power imbalance inherent in their relationship (statutory rape). Subsequent response will hinge heavily on viewer’s thoughts on these subjects. So while it’s a lovely slow burn that’s very personal, reactions to “Call Me By Your Name” can be mixed.

Rating:

3.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.