[yasr_overall_rating]
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 with many movies, the meaning of the title isn’t necessarily apparent at the outset. When the significance is later revealed during the film, it is a tender and poignant moment. Directed by Luca Guadagnino from a screenplay by James Ivory and based on the novel by André Aciman, “Call Me by Your Name” follows the exploits of two young men during a summer break. At first glance, they would seem to have little in common.
The setting of the film is northern Italy in 1983. The landscape and architecture are sumptuous and inviting – a country home where a college professor and his family spend the summers in a leisurely hiatus away from academia. It is the kind of place most of us, at best, might visit only briefly.
Having said that, the affluence portrayed in the locale seems very down to earth. There is nothing really opulent about existence in the country home. There is no air-conditioning, the rooms are dusty with bugs constantly flying about, and the structure often appears in need of repair. And yet, we feel as if we have been transported to some other far-removed, magical place and time.
Production values aside, a story like this only works if we get to know and like the characters. In this respect, the film necessarily hinges on the two male leads. Happily, the key elements of the cast are nothing less than superb.
Elio is played by Timothée Chalamet, a bright 17-year-old who is well-versed with the many pleasures that the lovely town of Crema and its environs have to offer in the summertime. The other lead is Oliver, played by Armie Hammer, a doctoral student visiting for six weeks to work with Elio’s father, Michael Stuhlbarg, a highly-regarded professor of antiquities and archaeology.
Stuhlbarg is amassing an impressive resume as a character actor in such varied films as “The Post,” “The Shape of Water,” and “Trumbo” (in which he delivers an excellent performance as the actor Edward G. Robinson) among many others. As Elio’s father, Professor Perlman is gracious and wise.
The female players in “Call Me by Your Name” are like sprinkles on a cupcake – lovely window dressing necessary to fill out the larger picture. Most notable is Esther Garrel as Marzia, the young love interest to Elio. Marzia is endearingly vulnerable just as Elio is endearingly ambivalent about her.
Without a doubt, the biggest surprise is Armie Hammer. Up until now, he has been perhaps most vividly remembered as “The Lone Ranger,” in a near-legendary box office flop directed by Gore Verbinski. In “Call Me by Your Name,” Hammer is pitch-perfect as the handsome doctoral student with a disarmingly easy style and grace. It is not hard to see why Elio is at first threatened and then later smitten with Oliver.
As the relationship develops between the men, they are both well aware that their time together is necessarily limited. This growing infatuation between two highly intelligent people draws us in and is a pleasure to behold.
The key to the story is the manner in which the characters either develop or are revealed in the two-hour twelve-minute runtime. Of particular note are two scenes at the end of the film. One occurs when Elio’s father – seemingly always available to provide counsel to his precocious son – discusses the relationship between the two young men in the context of a life well-lived. The other is the extended final shot of Elio, where the audience can be left with no doubt about his depth of feeling for Oliver.
The novel by André Aciman actually continues on beyond where the film leaves off. Fans of “Call Me by Your Name,” will be pleased to learn that a sequel has already been announced. Elio and Oliver are so compelling that many of us will wait with bated breath for the next phase of their journey.
In theaters Friday, January 19th
