Call Me By Your Name

A Detailed Review of the Film Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Call Me By Your Name is a masterfully crafted romantic drama directed by Luca Guadagnino, based on the acclaimed novel by André Aciman. Released in 2017, the film stars Timothée Chalamet as Elio Perlman and Armie Hammer as Oliver. Set against the sun-soaked backdrop of northern Italy in the summer of 1983, the film is a sensuous, melancholic exploration of first love, identity, and the passage of time.

The story follows 17-year-old Elio, a precocious and introspective teenager living with his academic parents in a serene Italian villa. Each summer, the family invites a graduate student to assist Elio’s father, a professor of archaeology. This year’s guest is Oliver, a confident and charismatic 24-year-old American. At first, Elio is resistant to Oliver’s casual charm, but as the summer unfolds, an intense and deeply emotional relationship blossoms between them.

Timothée Chalamet delivers a breathtaking performance as Elio, capturing the emotional turbulence of adolescence with remarkable vulnerability. His portrayal is filled with subtle gestures, longing glances, and unspoken emotions. Armie Hammer’s Oliver is the perfect counterpoint—aloof yet magnetic, hiding his own uncertainties behind a façade of ease. Together, their chemistry is electric and deeply human.

What elevates Call Me By Your Name beyond a typical coming-of-age story is its atmosphere and tone. Guadagnino creates a world that is tactile and immersive—the sound of cicadas, the ripeness of peaches, the rustle of trees, the shimmering blue of water. The camera lingers not just on faces but on objects, architecture, and nature, evoking a sense of memory and desire. The film doesn’t rush; it breathes.

The cinematography by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom is exquisite, using natural light to paint the Italian countryside in golden hues. Every frame feels like a memory—familiar, tender, and just out of reach. The soundtrack, featuring original songs by Sufjan Stevens (“Mystery of Love” and “Visions of Gideon”), adds layers of emotional depth, especially during the film’s final moments, which are among the most poignant in modern cinema.

One of the film’s most unforgettable scenes is Elio’s conversation with his father (played by Michael Stuhlbarg), who offers a profound and compassionate monologue about love, loss, and the importance of feeling deeply. It is a rare and beautiful moment of parental empathy that encapsulates the film’s heart.

Call Me By Your Name is not a story of forbidden love or tragedy, but rather one of ephemeral beauty. It explores how deeply a single relationship can shape a life, how moments of connection can stay with us forever. The film doesn't provide closure—it leaves us with longing, reflection, and the ache of something truly experienced.

In conclusion, Call Me By Your Name is a cinematic triumph—intimate, poetic, and emotionally resonant. It’s a meditation on love and identity that lingers long after the credits roll. With unforgettable performances and breathtaking visuals, it stands as one of the most powerful love stories of the 21st century.