Call me by your name
Feb. 15th, 2018 11:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sasha_featherMy plan to cheer myself up by seeing a movie last night absolutely worked. "Call Me by Your Name" was soothing, beautiful; sort of a gentle balm.
The story takes place in Northern Italy during the summer, and the camera lingers on fruit trees, open windows, green fields, and people wearing tiny shorts and open, light shirts. A great film to see in the depths of winter. The landscape felt abundant, full of light and warmth, and the people lounged around with seemingly plenty of time on their hands. They speak English, Italian, and French. They ride bikes into town and drink apricot juice.
Elio, age 17, is spending the summer reading and swimming and listening to music, and during this summer he falls in love with Oliver, 23, who is a research assistant for Elio's father and is living with the family in their fancy house. It is 1983, yet the story felt timeless, or out of time. I'm not sure what exactly it is saying, but this film is reflecting on time somehow, on having simultaneously too much and not enough.
This is not the kind of movie where spoilers matter, but just in case, here's a cut.
Homophobia was only sort of a shadow-- only present in how it informs the characters' actions. Oliver, of all the characters, is most affected by society's strictures. Elio's father is accepting, loving, wise.
Quibbles:
The film does not have a happy ending: Oliver leaves to go back home at the end of the summer, and later he calls to say he's getting married. This ending did not feel entirely bitter to me, though I would have preferred a happy ending.
It's a bit too long, especially considering that not much happens. I was in the right mood for it, however, and felt soothed by the film's slow and lingering aspects.
Armie Hammer is 31, and felt a bit old for the role of Oliver, though I liked his performance as someone who, while good looking and intelligent, is a bit awkward and fearful.
Content notes: sex, nudity, smoking, underage sex
The story takes place in Northern Italy during the summer, and the camera lingers on fruit trees, open windows, green fields, and people wearing tiny shorts and open, light shirts. A great film to see in the depths of winter. The landscape felt abundant, full of light and warmth, and the people lounged around with seemingly plenty of time on their hands. They speak English, Italian, and French. They ride bikes into town and drink apricot juice.
Elio, age 17, is spending the summer reading and swimming and listening to music, and during this summer he falls in love with Oliver, 23, who is a research assistant for Elio's father and is living with the family in their fancy house. It is 1983, yet the story felt timeless, or out of time. I'm not sure what exactly it is saying, but this film is reflecting on time somehow, on having simultaneously too much and not enough.
This is not the kind of movie where spoilers matter, but just in case, here's a cut.
Homophobia was only sort of a shadow-- only present in how it informs the characters' actions. Oliver, of all the characters, is most affected by society's strictures. Elio's father is accepting, loving, wise.
Quibbles:
The film does not have a happy ending: Oliver leaves to go back home at the end of the summer, and later he calls to say he's getting married. This ending did not feel entirely bitter to me, though I would have preferred a happy ending.
It's a bit too long, especially considering that not much happens. I was in the right mood for it, however, and felt soothed by the film's slow and lingering aspects.
Armie Hammer is 31, and felt a bit old for the role of Oliver, though I liked his performance as someone who, while good looking and intelligent, is a bit awkward and fearful.
Content notes: sex, nudity, smoking, underage sex
