Call Me by Your Name

Call Me by Your Name
Name	Call Me by Your Name
Director	Luca Guadagnino
Producer	Peter Spears, Luca Guadagnino, Emilie Georges, Rodrigo Teixeira, Marco Morabito, James Ivory
Writer	James Ivory
Based on	Call Me by Your Name, André Aciman
Starring	Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Esther Garrel, Victoire Du Bois
Music	Sufjan Stevens
Cinematography	Sayombhu Mukdeeprom
Editing	Walter Fasano
Studio	Frenesy Film Company, La Cinéfacture, RT Features, Water's End Productions
Distributor	Sony Pictures Classics
Released	2017, 01, 22, Sundance Film Festival, 2017, 11, 24, United States
Runtime	132 minutes
Country	* Italy * United States * France * Brazil
Language	English, Italian, French, German, Hebrew
Gross	$41.9 million

Call Me by Your Name is a 2017 coming-of-age romantic drama film directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by James Ivory, based on the 2007 novel of the same name by André Aciman. Set during the summer of 1983 in Northern Italy, the film chronicles the burgeoning romantic relationship between a 17-year-old Elio Perlman and Oliver, a 24-year-old graduate student assistant to Elio's father, an archaeology professor. The film is the final installment in Guadagnino's thematic "Desire" trilogy, following I Am Love (2009) and A Bigger Splash (2015).

Plot

In the summer of 1983, 17-year-old Elio Perlman spends his days at his family's villa in the Italian countryside, transcribing music and reading. His father, an archaeology professor, hosts a doctoral student, the American Oliver, for a six-week residency to assist with academic work. An initial ambivalence between Elio and Oliver gradually transforms into a deep, passionate romance. Their relationship unfolds over sun-drenched days filled with swimming, cycling, and intellectual discourse, culminating in a brief trip to Bergamo. The summer ends with Oliver's return to the United States, leaving Elio to grapple with the profound emotional aftermath of their affair, a process underscored by a poignant final conversation with his father.

Cast

* Timothée Chalamet as Elio Perlman * Armie Hammer as Oliver * Michael Stuhlbarg as Mr. Perlman, Elio's father * Amira Casar as Annella Perlman, Elio's mother * Esther Garrel as Marzia, Elio's friend and romantic interest * Victoire Du Bois as Chiara * Vanda Capriolo as Mafalda, the family's housekeeper * Antonio Rimoldi as Anchise, the family's groundskeeper * Elena Bucci as Bambi's mother * Giorgio Cantarini as Nastrino

Production

The project was developed by producer Peter Spears, who acquired the rights to André Aciman's novel. Luca Guadagnino came on board as director, with James Ivory writing the screenplay. Principal photography took place in Crema and surrounding areas in Lombardy during the summer of 2016. Cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom shot the film on 35mm to capture the lush, sensual atmosphere of the Italian summer. The production design by Samuel Deshors meticulously recreated the period setting of 1983. The soundtrack features original songs by Sufjan Stevens, including "Mystery of Love" and "Visions of Gideon", alongside classical pieces and contemporary Italian pop music from the era.

Themes and analysis

The film is a nuanced exploration of first love, sexual awakening, and the bittersweet nature of ephemeral experiences. Set against the backdrop of a permissive, intellectually vibrant household, it examines the intersection of desire, intellect, and memory. A central thematic element is the father's compassionate and accepting monologue, which validates Elio's experience and underscores themes of authenticity and emotional courage. The setting itself—the sun-drenched Italian Riviera and the family's villa filled with Greco-Roman artifacts—acts as a metaphor for a timeless, idyllic space where such a transformative romance can occur, drawing parallels to the pastoral tradition in literature and art.

Release and reception

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2017, and was released theatrically in the United States by Sony Pictures Classics on November 24, 2017. It received widespread critical acclaim, with particular praise directed at the performances of Timothée Chalamet and Michael Stuhlbarg, Luca Guadagnino's direction, James Ivory's screenplay, and its evocative aesthetic. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported a 94% approval rating, and it appeared on numerous critics' year-end lists, including those from the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review.

Accolades

The film received numerous awards and nominations. At the 90th Academy Awards, it was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor for Timothée Chalamet, and Best Original Song for "Mystery of Love". James Ivory won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. It also earned four BAFTA nominations, winning for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Film and Timothée Chalamet received the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor. Sufjan Stevens's contributions were recognized with nominations from the Hollywood Music in Media Awards.

Category:2017 films Category:American coming-of-age films Category:Italian romantic drama films