Set in 1983 Italy, Call Me By Your Name follows the unexpected romance that blossoms between two young men who initially seem completely different on the surface.
Elio, a precocious 17-year-old, spends every summer on vacation with his father, a professor of Greco-Roman culture, and his mother. Oliver, an American doctoral student, arrives for the annual internship Elio’s father offers. Oliver is everything Elio isn’t—the quintessential all-American hunk. Although Elio is initially reserved towards their new guest, as the summer progresses, they grow closer discovering their undeniable chemistry.
Call Me By Your Name is an absolutely beautiful film. The stunning cinematography combined with the fairy tale-esque setting creates a feeling of nostalgia as if one were watching a classic foreign film from the 1960’s. What really sets this film apart from other modern-day romances is it’s utterly realistic depiction of emotional vulnerability and sexual awakening. Any film covering such topics will have its share of awkward and even humorous moments, but the director, Luca Guadagnino, does so in an honest and respectful manner to ensure that a mockery is never made.
Like all summer love stories, this one has to come to an end. Call Me By Your Name closes with the delivery of one of the most moving parent-to-child monologues ever portrayed. Elio’s fathers open-minded and insightful words of consolation perfectly summarize the tone of the whole movie. It’s a perfect moment in a movie filled with many, which is why Call Me By Your Name is one of the greatest love stories to ever see the big screen.