Review of Call Me by Your Name (2017) by Terry N — 28 Dec 2017

Only a preachy philistine prude, who all likely has not seen the movie would wrongly attack this film for supposedly promoting pedophilia.

Underage sex refers to people under the age of consent, which is 16-18 in U.S. and 14 in Italy (where the story takes place). Pedophelia refers to an adult's sexual preference for prepubescent children age 13 and younger, which is illegal.

This movie depicts an unconventional consensual romantic relationship between two men within the legal albeit young age (17 and 24).

Yale scholar Joseph Fischel:

"Our society's intense focus on age and sexuality is a relatively recent notion, not a long-settled one, and that while the law may have a legitimate need to be blunt and rigid, our art does not. In my view, it's reasonable to be disturbed by the unconventional relationship in Call Me by Your Name, but it's not reasonable to say the movie endorses pedophilia, or really any kind of power-based abuse, just because it depicts that relationship. If we go down that censorious and unnuanced path with our art, very little will survive the trip.".

Chalamet showcases his amazing acting talent in the ending scene; and the dad's monologue is definitely resonating with me. One of the best films of the year.