MOVIE REVIEW – Call Me By Your Name
Review by Geoff Jenke
Call Me By Your Name is a love story based on the acclaimed novel by Andre Aciman. It is set in the summer of 1983 in the north of Italy. Elio Perlman is a 17-year-old American-Italian boy who spends his days in his family’s 17th century villa, transcribing and playing classical music. He also loves reading and flirting with his friend Marzia.
Elio’s father is an eminent professor specializing in Greco-Roman culture and his mother is a translator who favours him with the fruits of high culture in a setting that overflows with natural delights. Enter Oliver, a charming American scholar working on his doctorate, who has been invited by Elio’s father to help with his research. Both Elio and Oliver discover an interest in each other that over the course of the summer will alter their lives forever.
This is probably the first major film release since the YES vote about gay love. Director Luci Guadagnino certainly captures the innocence of youth set amongst the picturesque Italian villa and beautiful landscape. The story maybe a gay love story but it is told without judgement. It is just a love story.
The film is 130 minutes long and I found myself looking at my watch every now and then to see how much more time was left. At about 90 minutes long, the movie had what would have to be one of the longest seduction scene ever committed to film as the two lead actors hover around each other. And in this time, nothing really happens. The film is just too long.
As I write this, Rotten Tomato, has Call Me By Your Name at 96% with many reviewers saying this is the best movie of the year. I guess I am in the minority here. In the end it was enjoyable but it just didn’t deliver. It will however, be remembered for the peach scene.
Call Me By Your Name would have been an unthinkable release many years ago, so go see it and make your own mind up.
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