Year: 2017 Rated R Genre: Coming-of-Age, Gay, Romance Language: English, French, Italian Runtime: 2:12:00 Director: Luca Guadagnino Main Cast: Timothée Chalamet☆, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Esther Garrel
Notable Mentions: Timothée Chalamet as Elio, Luca Guadagnino's Direction
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Call Me by Your Name was beautifully crafted. To start, the setting's gorgeous. Italy is one of the most scenic places on Earth. The progression of Elio and Oliver's relationship was patient, believable and relatable. You ever said you don't like your crush? Driven insane when your crush ignored you? Remember that apocalyptic sadness you felt when your love moved away, worse, moved on before you. Through Call Me by Your Name, Luca Guadagnino perfectly captured a teenage boy's first love and heartbreak.
Near the end of the film, the Dad comforts Elio. For me, that's one of the standout dialogues in the film. Without breaking the façade, the Dad tells Elio that he accepts him for him. He advises Elio to love, emotionally and physically, to courageously, without shame, explore and take in all that life has to offer. With love comes heartbreak. When the heart breaks, feel the sorrow, the pain. After all, the best thing in life is to fall in love. The second best thing is to know that you loved. To experience joy, despair and everything in between is to be alive. You've lived, son. You've lived.
The Dad further disclosed to Elio that in his lifetime he had come close to but never had what Elio and Oliver had. Something always held him back, stood in the way, he said. Elio asked if his Mom knew. The Dad said no.
