Armie Hammer Timothee
Chalamet Michael
Stuhlbarg Amira
Casar
This could be the most sensually charged film
of the year. Every image and sound
touches the senses, from the lowing of cattle, to the silvery glistening of the
lake, to the boisterousness of partying and lovemaking, to the splash of bodies
hitting water, to the lushness of the Italian landscape, to the warm embraces
and lounging intimacy of family—I could go on. But you get the point—you will be wrapped in a new kind of
cloth by Luca Guadagnino (director), James Ivory (screenplay), and Andre Aciman
(Novel).
This is a coming-of-age story different from
its predecessors. It centers
around Elio (Chalamet), the teenage son of an American father and Italian mother
who spend summers with his family in northern Italy. They host an American professor every summer who assists
Professor Perlman (Stuhlbarg) in his archeological work. This year, they are hosting Oliver
(Hammer), who immediately becomes popular for his looks, his physique, and his
athletic skills, and still impresses his host with his academic knowledge.
The Perlmans’ son Elio is a young gifted
musician/composer who is only grudgingly/tentatively dipping his toe into life
experiences. He is trying out everything
he can when he is brave enough, is slightly insecure, despite his
adoring/supportive parents, and at first looks askance at his father’s new protégé. In adolescent style, he shows the
newcomer his “old” bedroom, as he moves in next door, and takes the man around
town to orient him; but something about Oliver catches his eye. He is both repelled by and attracted to
him. He especially hates Oliver’s
“Later!” when he takes his leave.
This will be an eventful summer for Elio as he
makes discoveries about himself, Oliver, and others; but Oliver is touched as
well in ways he hadn’t imagined before.
The viewer will be surprised—or at least intrigued—by the meanderings of
the story. It’s different from
what we’ve seen before in its introduction of an evolving view of sexuality,
one that is more naturalistic and, hopefully, more considerate and responsible.
Call Me
By Your Name is a call for our recognition and respect for natural, human
impulses and desires that may not fall into traditional dichotomous
categories. It’s presented
sensitively, humanistically, and realistically, and will be very valuable for
adolescents searching for themselves.
Timothee Shalamet is a standout in his
performance as Elio, as we see a remarkable transformation from his slightly
sullen beginning of the summer to the smitten end. Armie Hammer is also perfect as the adult who is searching,
ambivalent, and unsure, wanting to be circumspect and proper, yet fallible to
human enticements.
This is a different coming-of-age story
from the usual.
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