Call Me by Your Name

Rating: 7/10 (27 March 2018)

This was one of the movies mentioned a lot during Awards Season, I remember it mainly for its slightly confusing title, but it did make sense once I actually watched it, from BAFTA nominated director Luca Guadagnino (A Bigger Splash). Basically set in the summer of 1983, 17-year-old Jewish American-Italian boy Elio Perlman (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Timothée Chalamet) lives with mother Annella (Amira Casar) and father Mr. Perlman (Michael Stuhlbarg) in the countryside in northern Italy. His father, a professor of archaeology, invites 24-year-old Jewish American graduate student Oliver (The Lone Ranger's Golden Globe nominated Armie Hammer) to live with his family to help with his academic paperwork. Elio is an introspective bibliophile and musical prodigy, he finds little in common with Oliver's carefree and exuberant personality and resents him taking his bedroom for the duration of his stay. Elio spends a lot of the summer reading books and hanging out with his girlfriend Marzia (Esther Garrel), and to his annoyance, Oliver is attracted to one of the local girls. Elio and Oliver do eventually spend some time together, what starts as a good friendship slowly emerges into a seductive courtship, as they go on walks, swim together, and accompany Mr. Perlman on an archaeological trip. Although Elio has a sexual relationship with Marzia, he finds himself increasingly attracted to Oliver, he sneaks into his room one night to smell his clothing, and then thinks about him while masturbating. Elio subtly confesses his feelings to Oliver during a trip to the post office, but Oliver tells him he should not act on them, however later that day they share a kiss, but Oliver is reluctant to go any further, the pair subsequently get distant over the next few days. Oliver responds to a note left by Elio, asking him to meet him at midnight, Elio spends the day with Marzia, all the while longing to see Oliver. Finally, at midnight, Elio approaches Oliver on the patio, they make love for the first time, over the next few days they grow closer, having sex frequently and keeping their relationship a secret, in bed Oliver says to Elio, "Call me by your name and I'll call you by mine". They become more intimate both physically and emotionally, on one occasion, Elio ejaculates into an apricot that he has split open, and when Oliver discovers it, he takes a bite of the fruit in front of a humiliated Elio, who begs him not to, Elio is completely smitten with Oliver and starts avoiding Marzia. Oliver's stay is coming to an end, he and Elio are overcome by uncertainty and longing, Elio's parents are aware of a bond between them, they suggest taking a trip to Bergamo together before Oliver has to return to America, they spend three romantic days together. Oliver boards a train to return to America, Elio is heartbroken, he encounters a sympathetic Marzia, who still wants to be his friend, Mr. Perlman sees how miserable his son is, he tells him he was aware of Elio's affair with Oliver. Mr. Perlman confesses to having gotten close to his own love affair with a friend in his youth, and urges Elio to find pleasure in the grief, he says true love like Elio and Oliver shared is rare. During Hanukkah, Elio receives a phone call from Oliver, he tells him that he is engaged to be married, and they call each other by their names a final time, after the phone call, a pained Elio sits by the fireplace, many emotions cross his face as the people in the background prepare a holiday dinner. Also starring Victoire Du Bois as Chiara, Vanda Capriolo as Mafalda and Antonio Rimoldi as Anchiese. Chalamet gives a terrific performance as the clever and talented virginal teenager, Hammer is equally good as the visiting and confidently attractive intern, their relationship is believable, it is a nice simple story of gay eroticism unfolding, it has a witty script, and the Italian scenery is beautiful, an enjoyable coming-of-age drama. It won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for James Ivory, and it was nominated for Best Motion Picture of the Year and Best Original Song for "Mystery of Love", it won the BAFTA for Best Adapted Screenplay, and it was nominated for Best Film, and it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Drama. Very good!