CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

I absolutely love films and the world of cinema so I’ve decided to dedicate my blog post to one of my new favorite films.

Call Me by Your Name is a 2017 coming-of-age drama directed by Luca Guadagnino. It is based on André Aciman's 2007 novel of the same name.

It’s a truly beautiful film, with wonderful settings/colours and starring beautiful actors. Elio (Timothée Chalamet <3 <3) is a 17-year-old Jewish-American young man. He lives with his parents in rural Italy. His father invites a 24-year-old student, Oliver, to live with him and his family over the summer. To begin he finds little in common with Oliver and spends most of the time reading, playing piano, and with his girlfriend, Marzia.

Elio and Oliver begin to do lots of things together. Elio begins a sexual relationship with his girlfriend and brags about it in front of Oliver but nonetheless finds himself more and more attracted to him. Elio confesses his feelings to Oliver. They become more physically and emotionally intimate over the next few days.

As the end of Oliver's stay approaches, Elio's parents, who are aware of the bond between the two, tell them to visit Bergamo together before Oliver’s departure. They spend three romantic days together. The fathers talk with Elio at the end is extremely touching.

I promise not to spoil the whole ending for any of you wanting to watch this film but I have to include that the ending is magical, I mean Luca Guadagnino is a freaking genius, a 4-minute scene in which no one says a word. Elio in the foreground, cries and smiles, suffering and remembering the beautiful moments spent over the summer.

I saw this film for the first time by myself at the Cinema last year and found myself crying alone in the room at the end of it. I love that they speak French, English and Italian throughout the film and I feel that the era of LGBT cinema has reached a zenith with this film. Timothée Chalamet has quickly become one of my favorite actors after also seeing him in Lady Bird (another film I recommend).  I hope that you too after watching it will realize just what the definition of a ‘summer romance’ can mean.
Irena