Review of Call Me by Your Name (2017) by Matthew D — 01 Apr 2018

A Touching Picture of Forbidden Love.

Call Me by Your Name is a visual feast for the eyes. Beautiful cinematography of Italian landscapes, natural scenery, and open spaces offset the hidden feelings between Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer) in a touching depiction of homosexual lovers. These characters feel so real. James Ivory's dialogue is packed with verisimilitude and a believable take on how people actually talk.

The film takes you on a emotional roller coaster during an Italian Summer. Elio and Oliver get to know one another and have split feelings and a coming together. You get to see the subtle visual and verbal cues they send to one another. Call Me by Your Name is leaves you with a numbing sensation of understanding. You empathize with these two men. You feel their pain.

The acting is so very subtle. You are constantly wondering what Timothée Chalamet is thinking and feeling. By the end, you will cry. He is passionate, yet uncertain. You can tell Elio is thoughtful by Chalamet's face and movement. He is always thinking about how people feel about him. This feels so very much like how young people feel about themselves and find faults in their own personality that others do not see. It's a true to life portrayal and Chalamet performs with thoughtful choices every frame. He deserved the Oscar nomination. The bravery and detail with which Chalamet acts is breathtaking and will leave you moved.

The excellent and focused direction of Luca Guadagnino is evident with every frame. His shots are well paced, focused, and leave you with space to take in the surroundings. He lets you see people's faces and body language, while giving the environmental context for their world. His establishing shots show the whole Italian estate for the lush setting. Green nature envelops the characters in this world open to feeling. Guadagnino is a very talented director who makes sure you feel like you are following Chalamet everywhere to build your emotional attachment to his character.

Overall, Call Me by Your Name is a lovingly tale of uncertain feelings and forbidden love. It's well shot, carefully written, beautifully scored by Sufjan Stevens, perfectly cast, and so affectionately acted by the entire cast. I cannot recommend this film enough. See Call Me by Your Name immediately for a heartfelt love story as well as a stunning resonance of empathy.