An Emotional Wallop
I’ve never been to Italy during the summer of 1983, but after witnessing the beauty of Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name, I feel like I’ve lived it, smelt it and been transformed by it. Such is the power of this stunning, stunning film; a film whose quiet and intimate approach is so effective, it makes everything else around you feel almost insignificant.
17-year-old Elio (Timothée Chalamet) is spending his summer in an Italian villa with his family, specifically to help his father (Michael Stuhlbarg), a professor of archaeology, out with filing academic paperwork. To help out, 24-year-old Oliver is enlisted to stay for the summer and assist. At first, Elio doesn’t connect well with Oliver. Oliver is pretty much everything Elio believes he isn’t; confident, carefree, proud. As the summer progresses, Elio finds himself continually drawn to Oliver’s exuberance. Before too long, their true desires simmer out, resulting in an unforgettable and emotional experience, and one of the great stories about first love.
Each scene in Call Me By Your Name is pouring with emotion. There are scenes here that will long stick with you, in particular, Michael Stuhlbarg’s show-stopping closing monologue, which I’m tearing up again just thinking about. Sayombhu Mukdeeprom’s cinematography is exquisite without being too showy. You can’t think about the film without feeling its senses; the wind through the apricot trees, the freshness of the Italian summer air all seem to permeate through the screen and sear itself onto your memory. Guadagnino puts us right up close with the characters and takes his time with them, allowing their desires to fully bloom in their own manner. When said desires eventually do bloom, the emotional impact is overwhelming.
Sealing the deal are its two leads who make the film work in ways that it probably would without them. Armie Hammer is absolutely wonderful (if maybe a little too old for the part), and finally has discovered a defining role for himself that the rest of his career has only hinted at. As his true desires are revealed in the film’s second half, Hammer soars into greatness. The film unequivocally belongs to Chalamet though, who arguably gives the performance of the year. His performance is one for the ages; an intimate, physical and alive one that seems to only get more impressive the more I think about it. The final shot is perhaps the finest piece of acting I’ve witnessed all year.
Call Me By Your Name isn’t really concerned with the world at large, nor conflict in general. It’s a summery, breezy world for you to get lost in for two hours. I’m sure this is bound to turn off some who want maybe a few more sharp edges to their entertainment. But for those willing to lose themselves in this world (and you should be), the emotional wallop you’ll receive is something stick with you. If there’s one film you should see this summer, make it this one.