A Breathless And Sumptuous Movie

Rating: 10/10 (18 December 2019)

Call Me By Your Name
On the face of it this movie appeared just to be a coming a age story over a breathless summer in Italy in 1983. However it was about so so much more and it is a movie that requires several viewings to draw out the multiple and profound themes that lay just below the surface.
The movie looks at
The nature of sexuality linked to age and the tragedy of a sexual prime slipping away. The father says "there will come a time when no one looks at you, let alone comes near", and yet he appears "happily" married to Elio's mother. His message is to seize the moment to avoid regret.
That any sexuality cannot be ultimately "forced" or suppressed despite the strictures of any society, and that we should just be ourselves.
The careful way the age gap between Elio (17) and Oliver (24) was handled, they are both equal in their needs and desires at that moment in time, planets colliding.
Elio adolescent liaison with Marzia demonstrated his strength of desire for Oliver far outweighed his attachment to her. This was nothing personal, never stated, but entirely understood by her when they agreed to be lifelong friends.
The metaphor for Oliver was "later", but in fact the reality was "now".
The movie went on to introduce a breathless heat and sumptuous cinematography with a ravishing score.
Timothee Chalamet brought a animalistic, instinctive and nuanced portrayal of teenage infatuation. Without being to effusive he demonstrates the art of invisible acting effortlessly, this man is the entire package. I only hope he is given the quality work that respects his talent.
Armie Hammer was solid and he really gave a great performance and perhaps well outside his comfort range as a non-European lol!
I really loved this movie, it is just a joy to watch 10/10