Forget the phrase, “If you’re a bird, I’m a bird.” The next generation of hopeless romantics will recite, “Call me by your name, and I’ll call you by mine.”
The Oscar-nominated film “Call Me By Your Name” and my vote for Best Picture is never melodramatic or overdone. Both in its aesthetics and in the seamless illustration of affection in its purest form, a gorgeous film arises.
The story follows the intelligent and talented 17-year-old Elio (Timothée Chalamet) on his tumultuous journey of self-discovery and love with the help of Oliver (Armie Hammer), his father’s American intern.
It wasn’t merely the chemistry of the actors that made “Call Me By Your Name” shine as bright as the sunny summer days of northern Italy, the film’s setting. Without the scenery and careful execution of framing, half of the story is lost. And there is no musical choice more suitable for the tone of the film than classical tunes and Sufjan Stevens.
In fact, the unexpected magnificence of “Call Me By Your Name” is found in the realization that there could be no dialogue at all, and you would end up with the same outcome. While the novel of the same name relies on Elio’s inner dialogue to express the tension and coming-of-age conflicts, the film creates its tone through the aforementioned techniques. It’s a textbook example of how showing, not telling, elevates a narrative.
At first glance, the pacing of the film may seem tedious, and the action irrelevant. Only upon reflection did I realize every scene of this film is essential for bolstering the slow, erotic build of the plot. Between the everyday, non-sexual interactions, to the underlying message of Elio’s father’s career in Greco-Roman culture, it all has a suggestive edge. This wasn’t because I knew what was bound to transpire; the acting was just THAT good.
This isn’t a movie to watch in passing. You need to be open to absorbing all of the intricacies; only then will you engage all of your senses and, in turn, tap into all of your emotions to experience the sensuality of this film at full capacity.
If you aren’t inconsolable by the film’s end, you may not have a heart. The last scene lingers for longer than expected, leaving the audience with enough time to reflect on the beautiful love story in all its glory.
