Better than the book

Rating: 7/10 (2 March 2020)

Andre Aciman's problematic novel this film is based on is rendered more palatable in this film version. In the book, Elio does not cry when Oliver leaves, there is no big drama and we all knew it was coming. Oliver was a visitor, only. Visitors leave. That left the book without a powerful ending. The film changes that and adds this expected element so that the audience can have a proper ending. The book also drags on giving pointless views into the future, which the film wisely drops. Although greatly reduced in the film, the "I'm jewish too," scene and totally pointless jewish discussion in the book is unfortunately not removed from the film and comes across as it does in the book, leaving viewers scratching their heads as to why it was mentioned at all, as the jewishness of the characters adds absolutely nothing the story. The necklace could have been any necklace, and is not even part of the book.like the book, there is a flat quality in the film which can be seen as either good or bad: we have an unexceptional story about a commonplace thing - two people experiencing an inexplicable attraction to one another - which simply exists as it does in life, not for any reason or rhyme, but nonetheless being totally overpowering to the couple involved. It's just life and love. And pain, and it's beautiful if you feel it and perhaps boring if you don't.