Review of Call Me by Your Name (2017) by Asher K — 10 Apr 2018

O As seems to be a theme on this list, I enjoyed movies that took time and slowed pacing to focus on atmosphere, and created real-to-life situations, relationships, and characters. Call Me By Your Name is these in the extreme, as very little happens in this movie as far as plotting or tension-building as protagonist Elio finds summer love with a visiting scholar living with his family in the Italian countryside.

The pacing can be too slow at times, but the tension comes not from the plot but from the viewer, as Elio continues to lounge, swim, and read we feel a sense of the ticking clock of inevitability for as summer wanes, and wait for the other shoe to drop.

When it does, the conclusion is understated and poignant, an unbroken close-up take on Elio, as a parental monologue from the previous scene rings in the viewer's head. Timothy Chalamet is a revelation as Elio, capturing the teenage façade of nonchalance and confidence covering insecurities, desire and curiosity.

One small thread that sticks with me is that early on in the movie, Elio sees visiting scholar Oliver wearing a Star of David necklace and comments that his family is not as outward about their Judaism; later in the film, Elio starts wearing a Star of David necklace of his own.

Small touches like this fill out characters in a movie that doesn't dig often into feelings or backstory through dialogue.