¨Call Me by Your Name¨ captures a feeling that felt eternal, but turned out to be fleeting, and that was young love during an Italian summer under the golden sun. ¨Call Me by Your Name¨ was released in 2017. It features Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer, directed by Luca Guadagnino.
Through its beautiful writing and wonderful casting, ¨Call Me by Your Name¨ turned a simple love story between two young men into a tale of heartbreak, love, and identity.
It is 1983 in northern Italy when Elio Perlman, who is 17 years old, meets Oliver, a 24-year-old graduate student, who was staying with Perlman’s family. Perlman’s father, a professor, is the one who invited Oliver to do research. At first, Perlman is wary of Oliver, however, over time, they form something like a friendship. It turns into a feeling much deeper later on. At the end of the summer, they were left forever changed.
The acting of Chalamet makes the movie feel real. It shows everything that comes from a first love, the good and the bad. Oliver’s character is charming, witty and confident. In the movie, I saw him be distant on many occasions. Perlman’s father, played by Michael Stuhlbarg, gives a moving speech about accepting love. This a to the depth of the story between the two men.
The movie takes place during the summer in Italy, the shining sunlight and calming rivers set the perfect scene for Perlman and Oliver to fall hopelessly in love. The camera work and acting makes it feel as if I was there with them. The lighting, being warm and golden, shows beauty, comfort, and the passing of time.
The overall theme of the story is the good and bad of a first love. The film takes the viewer on a journey of desire, identity and maturing. It shows the bittersweet experience of love. A message I took from the movie is that it’s better to feel pain than nothing at all. This connects to real life because everyone at some point will experience it.
The soundtrack is beautiful. It contains the type of songs that can be listened to completely separate from the movie. The music shows Perlman’s inner dialogue throughout the movie. A notable song is ¨Mystery of Love,¨ as it describes the theme of the movie perfectly.
What I liked about the movie was how real it was. It wasn’t a type of movie that seemed completely unrealistic. I believe the writers wanted the viewers to see what it’s like to fall in love without any restraint.
The movie showed the beauty of love. The fact that it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. It reminds people how every emotion, even the bad ones, makes us human. Overall, I would rate this move a 9/10.