‘Call Me By Your Name’ (2017)

“Call Me By Your Name’ is a coming of age movie released in 2017 that was nominated for several awards, and winning the academy award for ‘best writing adapted screenplay’. A film that is incredibly close to my heart and by far my favourite movie of all time, I thought it only fitting to include this as my first entry. The scenes in this film, combined with the fantastic music score and editing, make it so unique and uplifting.

The film takes place in the early 1980’s in Northen Italy, where 17 year old ‘Elio’ (Timothee Chalamet) crosses paths with Oliver (Armie Hammer), a graduate student taking part in an aarchaeology internship with his father. With the movie taking place in summer, each shot in the film immerses you into the surroundings of the characters. The natural warm lighting of the sun shining on the lake, and the constant sounds of bugs and insects really give the audience the feel of summer, and the happiness that comes with it.

At the start we see Oliver arrive at the seluded house in the Italian Countryside where he is greeted by Elio’s parents (Michael Stuhlbarg & Amira Casar). Elio notices him from his window and immediatly notices his confidence, as he remarks to his girlfriend Marzia (Esther Garrel). After greeting him, he shows him to his room, and both seem very uninterested in one another, with Elio shocked by his lack of manners, and Oliver mainly focused on getting over his Jet lag. In the morning when Oliver presents himself for breakfast, the way he talks and makes jokes comes as a shock to the family, as Elio and his mother share looks. This ultimately sets up the plot, with Oliver starting off as a newcomer who Elio is unimpressed with. Elio offers to show him around, and the 2 have a conversation in a nearby town, before Oliver decides to venture on his own. Within the first 10 minutes of the film, we see that Elio is showing an interest in Oliver due to his long lustful looks. ‘Chalamet’ portrays his interest in Oliver briliantly, with no words needing to be said, as the audience can see in his facial expressions that he finds Oliver attractive.

As the film progresses, we follow Elio’s struggle to get Oliver’s attention, with him assuming due to his attitude, that he wanted no part in a summer fling. Elio also proceeds with his girlfriend throughout the film, and we see through the most part, the conflict that is going on in his mind, with him knowing that being with Marzia is the right thing to do, but not being able to shake the feelings he has for Oliver. This emotional battle he is dealing with, portrays sexuality as something not based on preference of gender, but simply preference of people. Elio observes Oliver, and we finally see his personal thoughts as the camera focuses on the pages in a note book he had been writing in, reading lines such as ‘I was too harsh’ and ‘I thought he didn’t like me’. This show’s Elio cares what Oliver thinks, and somehow yearns for his approval.

We see the two form a beautiful friendship, but up until this point, we only get a feel for Elio’s emotion. He watches Oliver dance with other girls, and we can see by his expressions, that he longs to be with him. What I love about this film is ‘Chalamet’s’ ability to convey emotion just through his facial expressions says everything about what he is feeling. One can simply look at him throughout the film and feel everything that he is feeling simply by looking at his body language and expressions. After his mother reads a story to him about a knight who asks himself ‘is it better to speak or to die?’ when bringing up the topic of his love. This sparks Elio’s interest as this is exactly what Elio is battling with. He confesses his true feelings to Oliver on an outing, to which Oliver brushes it off as he announces that they can’t talk bout this. Elio dosen’t give up and when sat by the lake together, the two share a kiss, and Oliver stops this quickly saying they can’t carry this on. This scene perfectly grasps the strugle for love in the 80’s between 2 men, as Oliver refuses to pursue his love due to the judgement that surrounds it. What makes it perfect is the scenes between Oliver and Elio always happen in private, which makes them the main focal point, where the viewer has no option but to focus on the tension that there is between the two.

The two stop talking for a while, with Elio putting more time and effort into his relationship with Marzia. Although we see him having fun with his girlfriend, the audience can feel Elio’s struggle as he battles against his sexual urges. As a 17 year old boy, the audience can identify with the idea of a first love, whether it be a man or a woman, and this is what gives the audience sympathy for Elio as he tries to brush it off by using Marzia as a distraction. Elio, finally having had enough, slides a note under oliver’s door saying “Can’t stand the silence, need to talk’. Oliver replies the next morning with a note saying ‘Grow up, I’ll see you at midnight’. The next scenes show Elio going about his day, and constantly checking his watch. This shows his nerves and his excitement. Even when making love to Marzia, he is checking his watch, waiting for midnight, which further emphasises the tension between the 2 and the love he must have for Oliver.

At midnight, Elio displays nerves when meeting Oliver, and the 2 share an intimate night together. During this night, we get a feel for Oliver and his emotions, as he looks at Elio very longingly, and we see that he adores Elio just as much as Elio adores Oliver. They exchange loving words in bed together, with Oliver saying ‘Call me by your name and I’ll call you by mine’. The 2 then go on to spend time at the lake together, and have a loving few days, with Oliver teasing Elio in certain ways. One of the more explicit scenes in the film depicts Elio using a peach in order to masturbate, and Oliver then entering the room only to find out what he has been doing, and then threatens to eat it. This sequence shows Elio’s sexual frustration as a 17 year old boy, and his confusion and excitement to try new things. We then see him start to cry and hug Oliver, expressing that he dosen’t want him to go. We finally see at this point how much Oliver truly means to Elio. The film expresses love in such a real sense, and it is so raw, with it being performed so well by the actors involved, which is what makes it one of my all-time favourite films. Oliver heads into town, and Elio follows. Oliver confesses his true feelings by saying ‘Do you know how happy I am that we slept together’, and he shows worry that he might of ‘messed’ Elio up. This worry shows how Oliver cares for Elio, and only wants the best for him.

During the last few scenes of the film, we see Oliver and Elio head to ‘Rome’ on a little break before Oliver leaves, where they have a great time, and share their last moments together. As Oliver gets on the train and says goodbye, Elio is left heartbroken, and we see rings around his eyes that show he has been crying. As Elio returns home, and Marzia breaks things off with him, but they agree to remain friends, he sits with no emotion, the first in which we see this in the film, as Elio is numb with pain. This truly lets the audience feel his heartbreak. An amazing monologue by Elio’s father sends viewers into floods of tears, as he announces to Elio that he was not blind to what was going on, and confesses that he envy’s Elio as he had came close to love like that, but never truly got it. This speech is so beautiful, as he tells Elio to let the pain in as it is part of him. The love his father gives him is one of the most precious scenes in this movie, as it explains how love is very complicated.

The last scene takes place a few months later in the winter, where Oliver calls and tells Elio that he is getting married. Elio proceeds to call Oliver by his name, and whispers ‘Elio Elio Elio’ down the phone, to which Oliver replies ‘Oliver…I remember everything’. After pretending to be happy for him, Elio then proceeds to look into the fire and let his emotions out. He does this throughout the whole of the credit sequence, which shatters the audiences hearts as he bathes in his sorrow and grief.

The reason why I adore this movie is the expert cinematography and music score not only add to the films emotional depth, but aids it in conveying the idea of summer love. The message of the film is that love is complicated and it can be unbearbable at times. Instead of showing love as something amazing and special, the film also shows the negative parts, and changes people’s perception of love, and how it can come very unexpectedly and it can hurt a lot. The scenery featured within the movie makes you feel like you are with the characters, with the sun glistening through the tree’s and the romantic scenery of the Italian countryside. The film is an emotional journey for anyone that chooses to watch it, but it is a film that deserves every praise that it gets, with all the talanted actors and actresses conveying so much raw emotion, it really makes the film incredibly believeable and allows the audience to fall in love with it. I have nothing bad to say about this movie, as even the scenes that seemed long winded or boring, ultimately were incredibly important and I wouldnt change any of it for the world.