Astounding Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (10 September 2019)

Simply, this is one of the greatest films ever made. From the moment it begins you are enraptured in North Italian summer. The first time I saw the film, I was waiting for the inevitable crackdown on Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver's (Armie Hammer) forbidden romance. However the unexpected happened. Instead of the taboo nature of their relationship driving them apart it was a more realistic process. Time, circumstance, distance. All of these factors have affects on real life relationships and director Luca Guadagnino certainly understands this given his honest portrayal of relationships. As the events of the film unfold you are caught in the explosive romance of Elio and Oliver. After finally professing their feelings for one another Elio and Oliver have a brief trip together. The camera tracks a path in the woods, all other sounds drop out and only the score plays. Finally, the audience and the characters are free. Free to enjoy the beauty of nature, humanity, and appreciate love (however fleeting it may be).
The intimate, loving, and sensory experience provided by this film is unmatched. You cannot resist the charm of the Perlman's villa and their unnamed Italian town of residence. Anyone who has visited Italy or frankly anywhere in the Mediterranean will be able to relate to the perspective of this film. It captures a lazy Mediterranean summer in away only a director familiar with this lifestyle (such as Guadagnino) could.
By the end of the film, you will walk away absolutely devastated. But as Mr. Perlman (Michael Stuhlbarg) says (in one of my favorite scenes ever put to film) "...to have felt nothing at all, what a waste". This is a modern masterpiece that will be talked about for years to come. It is easily one of the best romance films ever made. It solidifies Timothée Chalamet as one of the most exciting young actors currently working, features an excellent supporting cast including wonderful performances by Michael Stuhlbarg and Armie Hammer, and a beautiful piano heavy score that occasional features original compositions by Surfjan Stevens.
Summer, youth, love, loss, heartache, coming of age. All these themes are explored by Call Me By Your Name with sensitivity and occasional brutal honesty. Do yourself a favor and watch this once in a generation movie, you will not regret it.