Call Me By Your Name (Luca Guadagnino, 2017) wr. James Ivory, from André Aciman's novel; prod. Emilie Georges, Luca Guadagnino, Marco Morabito, Peter Spears; Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbar; Nomination for Best Actor Oscar: Timothée Chalamet; 4 nominations
In Northern Italy in 1983, seventeen year-old Elio begins a relationship with visiting Oliver, his father's research assistant, with whom he bonds over his emerging sexuality, their Jewish heritage, and the beguiling Italian landscape.
As a homosexual love story, this is not something to which I relate. However, that's mostly relegated to the third act. I saw the film mainly in relation to its setting, in both social and geographical terms. It's set in the Italian countryside (but could also be in France, as French is spoken as much as Italian), and in the bosom of a charming family, in whose company I felt like a welcome visitor.
I saw Chalamet in Lady Bird, where he comes across a spoilt American brat, unlike here, where he is sophijmsticated and charming. I'm not sure how much of this is his acting (he's so young) and how much the effect of the design and direction.
... an intensely languorous seduction from Luca Guadagnino. ... beautiful, supremely touching performance from Chalamet which gives this surprisingly safe story its moving purity.
Garry Gillard | reviews | New: 28 February, 2017 | Now: 8 November, 2019