Call me by your name (2017)

	Also Known As: Llámame por tu nombre
	Year of first release: 2017
	Director: Luca Guadagnino
	Actors: Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Esther Garrel
	Country: I, F, BR, USA
	Genre: Romance, Drama
	Conditions of visioning: 26.02.2018, Schauburg, OV Sneak Preview, English/Italian/French version with German subtitle
Synopsis: In summer 1983 in the north of Italy, Elio Perlman (Chalamet) spends his days in his family's 17th century villa transcribing and playing classical music, reading, and flirting with his friend Marzia (Garrel). Elio enjoys a close relationship with his father (Stuhlbarg), an eminent professor specializing in Greco-Roman culture, and his mother Annella (Casar), a translator, who favor him with the fruits of high culture in a setting that overflows with natural delights. While Elio's sophistication and intellectual gifts suggest he is already a fully-fledged adult, there is much that yet remains innocent and unformed about him. One day arrives Oliver (Armie Hammer), a 24-year-old American college graduate student working for his father as research assistant, that everyone seem to like.
Review: The intellectual atmosphere gives some charm to the story. On the other side it seems to set a distance between the intellectual family and Oliver and the rest of the people who are just there around, that is a rather arrogant perspective. Possibly the book is more balanced and less arrogant.  The intellectual lifestyle and the lascivious double meaning of words, music and behaviours are delightful for instance the dialogues about the statue recovered from the lake. The atmosphere of lazy holidays full of intellectual activities (reading books, talking about music, talking about history) and of idyllic spots (secret bath spot of Elio, garden, empty village with kiosk) is given all along the movie. There are some evolutions typical of a coming-of-age story but suggested with originality for instance the peaches and apricots seen as symbol of holidays and lazyness and then of lust. The extremely open minded parents are there like mentors for Elio and may match with the end of 70s beginning of 80s. The way Elio tries out his sexuality (SPOILER with both Marzia and Oliver) and discovers love for the first time is acted very authentically. Esther Garrel has a small role but acts also very naturally. She does not neglect the scenes with no dialogue in which her look and gesture provide her thoughts and emotions.  Luca Guadagnino is already planning a sequel! I would rather recommend to enjoy this romance even if its elitist flair can annoy a lot.
Rating: 6 /10