'Call Me By Your Name' Review
‘Call Me By Your Name’ Review - 7/10
When you start watching ‘Call me by your name’ you just think it’s going to be another story about teenager summer love, that is sweet but nothing really specially. Nevertheless, James Ivory (the screenplay writer) writes an amazing script that touches every love bone in your body. The sensuality and emotion present throughout every inch of the film such as the location, the soundtrack and the use of French and Italian in the script brings out a sweet element so that you never get bored. Additionally, the scenes used are hard to come by in Hollywood nowadays, almost being utopic, filmed with aesthetically pleasing shots and exquisite cinematography in a Northern Italy village.
Although, not an action filled movie, its silent moments are accompanied amazingly with a tranquil soundtrack in the background which really does captivate you. The intellectuality of the film exists throughout all aspects to the characters being intelligent through history or either music or by being bilingual. The main set of Elio’s house is a 17th century villa that seems to complement the academic side of the characters.
The film is set in 1983 in Italy, and the two main characters, Elio (played by Timothee Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer) take on a very refreshing outlook on how LGBTQ individual’s lives were at the time.
Timothee Chalament’s character, Elio, is sophisticated, complex and cool which makes you instantly like him and Timothee’s amazing representation shows that he definitely deserves all those nominations, as he makes you forget that he is even acting. The Intricate personalities and the perfectly moulded script makes it difficult to dislike. Even secondary characters such as Elios’ parents Mr. Perlman and Annella (played by Michael Stuhlbarg and Amira Casar) are well thought out and so important to the film.
What really did complete the film for me was Mr. Perlman talking to Elio about his broken heart as Mr. Perlman says ‘just remember, our hearts and our bodies are given to us only once. And before you know it, your heart is worn out, and, as for your body, there comes a point when no one looks at it, much less wants to come near it. Right now, there's sorrow, pain. Don't kill it and with it the joy you've felt.’ I don’t think I’ve every seen a movie that takes love so deeply and has been able to capture the passion of the love and that not always it has a happy ever after. ‘Call Me by Your Name’ shows you that it is possible for you to find your soulmate in this world but somehow you’re not destined to be with them.
Although being a film that is beautiful and has no negative aspects, I gave it a 7 because it’s a simple film and not very out of the box. However, that isn’t always a bag thing.
Signed, S
