Call Me By Your Name is a beautifully romantic coming-of-age film — and deserves to be celebrated by critics
Luca Guadagnino’s film set in 1980s is a beautiful piece of cinema which stunningly depicts love that transcends boundaries
FROM the early screenings and a packed premiere at London Film Festival, Luca Guadagnino’s coming out and coming-of-age story set in Eighties Italy has had critics and fans alike frothing at the mouth like nothing I’ve seen for ages.
Is it worthy? Pretty much, yeah.
Armie Hammer is Oliver, a handsome, preppy and arrogant student who spends a summer as a professor’s assistant in a sun- drenched and picturesque Italian village.
Here, Elio (Timothée Chalamet) – the professor’s son – proves to be more than a worthy distraction and the two become embroiled in a passionate, explicit and touching affair.
As with most summer romances, it’s finite – but that’s all that’s needed to change lives forever.
The two leads are utterly superb, but it’s Chalamet who delivers a damned flawless performance as the virginal and inquisitive Elio – as expressive as he is captivating.
It’s a stunningly filmed romance which, to be honest, I felt didn’t really flourish until its final act.
If love transcends boundaries, this was a courtship that left me slightly cold. I never once felt the couple were destined, or indeed suited, until they were inevitably torn apart.
That said, the Lake Garda scenery, casual Italian conversation and a beautiful, touching closing speech from Michael Stuhlbarg as Elio’s father sealed the deal for me.
Call Me By Your Name
(15) 132mins
★★★★
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