Film Review: "Call Me by Your Name" (2017).

"Is it better to speak or die?" This is the drama of Call Me by Your Name. This coming-of-age romantic drama film directed by Luca Guadagnino, adapted by James Ivory, based on André Aciman's 2007 novel of the same name. It is the final installment in Guadagnino's thematic "Desire" trilogy, after I Am Love (2009) and A Bigger Splash (2015). The film centres on Elio, a teenager, who develops feelings for Oliver, his father's temporary assistant. Although their relationship is temporary, Elio realises his sexual orientation and tries to come to terms with it.

In 2007, development began on an adaptation on Aciman's novel, when producers Peter Spears and Howard Rosenman optioned the screen rights, with Ivory brought on as executive producer. In 2008, production began, but the project soon fell into development hell, with several directors and writers considered, including Gabriele Muccino, Ferzan Özpetek, and Sam Taylor-Johnson. Scheduling filming in Italy during the summer also proved difficult. Ivory was ultimately placed in the director's chair on the condition that he also pen the script. Ivory spent nine months writing the script. However, in 2016, Guadagnino was hired as director after Ivory step down. Guadagnino initially joined the project as a location consultant. By early May, Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Esther Garrel, and Victoire Du Bois were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and wrapped in early June. Filming took place in Crema, Italy. The film was largely filmed in chronological order, and was shot on 35mm film with Arricam LT camera and Cooke S4 Lenses, in the 1.85: 1 aspect ratio. Prior to filming, there was only one rehearsal. Both the source novel and the original screenplay included much more explicit sex scenes (both gay and straight encounters) and full-frontal nudity. But Guadagnino excised several moments from the finished film unless they felt organic to the plot and themes of the film as he did not want any to feel gratuitous. Guadagnino was not interested in including explicit sex scenes in the film because the tone would have been very different from what he was looking for. He wanted the audience to completely rely on the emotional travel of these people and feel first love. He did not want the audience to find any difference or discrimination toward these characters. Post-production took only a month, between June and July, for Guadagnino and Editor Walter Fasano - the fastest they had ever edited. Their first cut of the film ran three hours and twenty minutes long. The final cut lasts two hours and ten minutes. For the film's soundtrack, Guadagnino curated the selection himself.

The film could not exist without the extraordinary performances of Chalamet and Hammer. The meeting of these two men is an electrifying scene. Guadagnino and his wonderful actors make it very clear that something momentous has occurred - love at first sight.

Shaped by Guadagnino's deft direction and powered by a strong cast led by Chalamet and Hammer, Call Me by Your Name lives up to its groundbreaking source material.
Simon says Call Me by Your Name receives:

Also, see my review for A Bigger Splash.