Italy, 1983. A teenager and a doctoral student discover the heady beauty of awakening desire over the course of a summer that will alter their lives forever. A film by Luca Guadagnino, starring Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Esther Garrel, Victoire du Bois, Vanda Capriolo, Antonio Rimoldi, Elena Bucci, and Marco Sgrosso.

In the summer of 1983, Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), a 17-year-old Jewish Italian-French boy, lives with his parents in Northern Italy with his mother Annella (Amira Casar), and his father Mr. Perlman (Michael Stuhlbarg), a professor of archaeology.

Every summer, his father would invite a scholar to their house to help him with his academic paperwork. That summer, his father invite Oliver (Armie Hammer), a 24-year-old Jewish-American graduate student to live with the family over the summer.

Elio, an introspective bookworm with a passion for music, finds himself initially disliking Oliver’s detached and carefree nature. Elio’s summer days are spent immersed in literature, exploring melodies on his piano, and rekindling bonds with his childhood friends.

However, as time unfolds, Elio finds himself drawn to Oliver’s presence, riding bicycles into town together and accompanying Elio’s father on an archaeological expedition. With each passing moment, Elio’s initial aversion to Oliver transforms into an undeniable attraction.

A romantic coming-of-age drama film adapted from the 2007 novel of the same title by Italian-American author André Aciman, explores the romantic awakening of 17-year-old American-Italian Jewish boy named Elio Perlman and a 24-year-old American Jewish scholar named Oliver in Italy during the 1980s.

The opening scene and ending sequence of the film are both exceptional. The breathtaking location and landscape of the Italian countryside are captured with stunning detail, and the cast delivers believable and captivating performances.

Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Amira Casar are particularly impressive. Chalamet’s portrayal of Elio is nuanced and emotionally resonant.

Stuhlbarg’s performance as Elio’s father is both tender and insightful. Casar’s role as Annella is small but memorable, and she brings a touch of warmth and humor to the film.

Luca Guadagnino’s signature dance scene, which captivated audiences in A BIGGER SPLASH, reaches new heights of brilliance in CALL ME BY YOUR NAME.

Handpicked by the director himself, the film’s soundtrack elevates the cinematic experience, particularly the hauntingly beautiful “Mystery of Love” by Sufjan Stevens, composed specifically for the film. The music intertwines seamlessly with the narrative, amplifying the emotional resonance of each scene.

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on 22 January 2017. It was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on 27 October, and in the United States on 24 November, by Sony Pictures Classics. This film serves as the final installment of Luca Guadagnino’s Desire Trilogy, following io Sono l’Amore, and A BIGGER SPLASH.

Ich bitte Euch, ratet mir, was besser ist – reden oder sterben.