Review of Call Me by Your Name (2017) by Gofor — 25 Dec 2017

Many extraordinary moments elevate a gorgeously shot art film into something wondrous and memorable long after Elio's emotional face finally disappears from the screen. The depth of the acting gives the work many layers such that all you want to do at the end is watch it again to better understand the hidden emotions.

The surface characters are not sympathetic - Elio precociousness is matched by Oliver's arrogance but both are revealed to be outer protective layers covering inner vulnerability and the drama is the awkward revelation of mutual attraction.

"We wasted so much time", Oliver says towards the end. Then much like Dr. Zhivago and Lara live their limited time together to the full, so do Oliver and Elio. Their parting is silent appropriately enough at a train station where timetables are fixed and insensitive to the wight of the moment.

Just when we think the end has come, Elio's father delivers the greatest father-son talk ever captured in cinema - which of us would not have wanted our father to articulate Mr. Perlman's generosity and love to them? - immediately trumped by one of the greatest pieces of cinema ever as the emotions cascade through Elios face in a single shot over almost 4 minutes.

Film-lovers will be left breathless. This is a piece of cinema history.