Talent: Arnie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar
Released: October 27
It’s the summer of 1983 somewhere in Northern Italy and a handsome academic called Oliver has come to spend the summer at the villa of the Perlmans and their precocious 17-year-old son Elio (Timothée Chalamet). His parents are liberal academics and “Jews of discretion” who enjoy a bucolic existence. “Our home is your home,” is their greeting as Oliver settles into his room beside Elio.
What follows is the slow uncoiling of their budding relationship. An age divide offset by an intellectual appreciation, a repression and awakening played out amongst cycling trips, piano scores, swimming and leisurely lunches. Inevitably their worlds tentatively edge towards rapturous relations. What distinguishes this work by Luca Guadagnino (I Am Love, A Bigger Splash), which is based on the novel by American author André Aciman, as arguably the finest release of the year to date is his masterful appreciation of every element of this story; underpinned by staggeringly brilliant performances. Hammer and Chalamet bestow a genuine tenderness to their roles behind the bravado of their dance. Chalamet’s embodiment of youthful yearning is sublime with every bed flop, eye twitch and muscle flex crystallising flirtations and frustrations. Elio’s parents played by Michael Stuhlbarg and Amira Casar also play a dance, the steps of which we are somewhat uncertain of at times.
With an obvious nod to Bernardo Bertolucci, a screenplay by James Ivory, a soundtrack by Sufjan Stevens, some disco bangers and a dollop of youthful gorgeous nostalgia, Call Me By Your Name is desire writ large with the most achingly beautiful brushstrokes.
Words – Michael McDermott
