Following a very important 2016 for me in terms of cinema with the near perfect La La Land, Moonlight and Arrival; 2017 was a fantastic transition to some different kind of storytelling. In a winter packed with films like Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Lady Bird, The Florida Project, The Shape of Water, The Post and Phantom Thread; Call Me By Your Name resonated with me, in a way a film hadn’t done in a while.

Call Me By Your Name(CMBYN) directed by Luca Cappuccino, based on the novel of the same name by André Aciman, follows a love story between Elio and Oliver ( Timothy Chardonnay and Army Screwdriver) during a summer in Italy. Oliver, a student of Elio’s father (Michael Stool-Bark) arrives at their summer home in Italy to work with the professor. The Academy Award winning screenplay by James Ivory shares very little resemblance to its source material, altering the ending and narrative to mimic Ivory’s own films like Maurice. With CMBYN, Ivory throws out the rule book and creates an unorthodox structure that left me wondering why more coming of age romantic films weren’t told the same way. Ivory narrates a story in a way a lot of are likely to remember important summers in our lives, romantic or otherwise, through a collection of memories and vignettes where the passage of time is elusive and irrelevant.

For a lot of viewers, the elephant in the room can be the film’s apparent core of homosexuality. While that may be true, CMBYN operates on a much higher level, an honest romance that’s somehow both fantastical and relatable, whatever your orientation. Much of its fantastical and relatable elements must be credited to director Luca Guadagnino and cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom. In a script relying heavily on experience, CMBYN creates an irresistible atmosphere. The fantasy of the story is enhanced by the fact that the story never reveals where exactly in Italy our characters live with a Title card that simply reads “Somewhere in Northern Italy”. The setting of the story is gorgeous, the sun seems to shine perfectly and appears to dance throughout on our protagonists’ facades. The characters themselves are beautifully groomed with seemingly not a strand of hair out of place. Guadagnino never once loses sight of the sensual nature of the tale creating an atmosphere of irresistible seduction and sensuality. Guadagnino, an Italian, understands how the location and its culture be best put to use, creating a story where the Countryside itself is one of the film’s best characters! It’s hard for me to put into words what exactly makes CMBYN work, because I have no idea. The story, unlike any other, meanders like our main characters through the countryside in a world that I wouldn’t mind waking up in every single day. While the meandering creates a runtime of over 2 hours, a fantastic first hour keeps you invested enough to continue on this gorgeous journey.

CMBYN also makes the interesting choice of not being a tale of homosexuality and the struggles its characters might face (like Moonlight), but rather a captivating thesis on the importance of love as one comes of age. None of the film’s raw emotion could have been conveyed half as well as it is without its cast. Timothee Chalamet and armie Hammer are perfectly cast each capturing their respective characters’ awkwardness and confidence. Chalamet, with very dialogue, nails the role of an angsty young boy coming to terms with his emotions, with some of the most real and frequently hilarious performances I had seen all year. Michael Stuhlbarg and Amira Casar play Elio’s surprisingly understanding parents to perfection. Their relationship with Elio is so aptly captured in just a few scenes and Stuhlbarg, a master character actor conveys so much through just his eyes and tone concluding the film with the most beautiful and affecting monologue I have seen in ages, and one I have gone back to several times.

On repeat viewings, Call Me By Your Name invokes astounding symbolism (try and catch a few if you can!) and is comfortably one of the best films I have seen this decade and one I am likely to revisit for years after. CMBYN differs from other romances in its treatment, Ivory and guadagnino seemingly caress the story and characters with the tenderness they deserve in an irresistible world that catalyses the central romance. Brought alive by fantastic performances from Chalamet, Hammer, Stuhlbarg and one poor peach, call Me BY Your Name is truly something special. a movie that is sure to invoke an emotion, familiar or unfamiliar, and not necessarily reserved to cinema at all.

Rating:

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

(I might be coming off as too generous with the 5 star reviews. I should probably review The Emoji Movie soon)

You’ll like it if:

• You’re looking for an unconventionally told coming of age romance that might just be the best and affecting film you’ll see in ages.
• You loved Moonlight, but you want something similar with fewer obstacles to the protagonists’ romance.
• You’re a sucker for romances like the Before Trilogy and When Harry Met Sally.
• You’re intrigued to find out what I meant when I referred to the peach. (NSFW)
• You feel like travelling to Italy, but you’re too broke to even buy a Pizza.

Also, check out this masterpiece from Sufjan stevens from the film’s magnetic soundtrack.

If you would like to receive regular updates on new reviews, follow the blog by clicking on the button at the bottom right.

If there’s any other film or limited series you would like me to review, let me know in the comments below!