It has become one of the most talked about films of the year. Call Me By Your Name has been embraced by both the gay and straight communities, but not for being controversial. The simple reason people are falling in love with this gem, is because it is exactly that – a love story.
Directed by Italian-born Luca Guadagnino, Call Me By Your Name is a romantic coming-of-age drama adapted from the 2007 novel by American writer Andre Aciman. The story, set in the Eighties, centers around seventeen-year-old Elio Perlman who lives with his parents in Northern Italy. When his father takes in a new academic student, the 24-year-old Oliver, Elio develops feelings for the visiting American and his adolescent sexual feelings are awakened.
In the role of Elio is Timothee Chalamet (Interstellar) and playing Olivier is Armie Hammer (The Lone Ranger). Elio’s parents are played by Michael Stuhlbarg (Dr Strange) and Amira Casar (Night of a 1000 Hours), with French actress Esther Garrel as Elio’s female companion Marzia.
While stunningly shot in Crema Italy through the lens of cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, the soundtrack is provided by indie pop artist Sufjan Stevens. The movie also marks the third installment in director Guadagnino’s Desire trilogy following on from I Am Love (2009) and A Bigger Splash (2015). Although adapted from the novel, Guadagnino made a point of using little dialogue in many scenes, in order to emphasis the subtext which lies ‘underneath words’.
Obviously, the affair between the older and younger men has caused some controversy, including a tweet by actor James Woods who referred to chipping away at the last barriers of decency, to which Armie Hammer responded “Didn’t you date a 19 year old when you were 60…?”
While the legal age of consent in Italy is fourteen, part of the issue may be that Chalamet himself looks more around fourteen, when in fact he was twenty at time of filming. Movies in the past to cause such ripples have included For A Lost Soldier, American Beauty, L.I.E. and the classic Lolita. But where those films delved into the forbidden, the morality of Call Me By Your Name should not be in question. The story has an honesty and sincerity that seems to strike at the heartstrings of the most cynical of viewers.
Interestingly this movie may be gay themed, but it does not have the usual demons of homophobia, AIDS, self-hatred or tragedy. Producer Howard Rosenman, who has been developing the movie since 2007, points out how truly joyful it is.
“There’s no judgment attributed to the story,” says Rosenman. “It’s not about gay anxiety or someone being sick. It’s not about punishment or of parent’s disapproving. It’s about a love affair, a summer romance and sets a different kind of pace. It’s certainly groundbreaking in that way.”
As for Armie Hammer’s performance, Rosenman explains why the actor fell so well into the role.
“Armie is an extremely straight actor, married with a wife and kids, and is gorgeous beyond belief,” says Rosenman. “He was actually frightened to take on the role due to the nature of the story, but over a two year period, he developed a relationship of mutual admiration and respect with Luca Guadagnino – and decided to do it. So he plunged into the depths of his own anxiety and came up with this exceptionally beautiful role. He trusted Luca so much, that the director was able to bring out the best performance of Armie’s career.”
Since premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January, Call Me By Your Name has won many awards including the Audience Award at this year’s Melbourne International Film Festival. The big question is whether it will make next year’s Oscars nominations.
It’s also of no surprise that Call Me By Your Name has elevated its cast’s status. Chalamet has been working on Woody Allen’s new production A Rainy Day in New York with Liev Schreiber, and also plays the meth-addicted son to Steve Carell’s character in Beautiful Boy, set for release next year. While Hammer is certainly Hollywood’s next big thing, his role in Call Me By Your name is the reason why – and to think it was turned down by Shia LaBeouf!
Call Me By Your Name has a sense of melancholy submerged in its overall essence of romantic excitement. In many ways it is the fairytale romance that we all desire at some point in out lives. As Rosenman explains, it’s basically a love story.
“It’s about first love and everybody has a first love,” he says. “Then there are, as in the novel, the parents played by Michael Stuhlbarg and Amira Casar who both realise what a wonderful thing their son has, and how it should be treasured. When they see what Elio has, they wish they had had such a choice. It’s the father’s speech toward the end that really says it all.”
As far as the audience goes, most seem to agree that Call Me By Your Name is somewhat a personal and uplifting experience. Some have gone on the record to call it a masterpiece. But perhaps the last word belongs to its author Aciman who said, “Wow, they’ve done better than the book”. Now that’s saying something!
