Call Me by Your Name (film)

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Call Me by Your Name is a 2017 romantic drama directed by Luca Guadagnino. It’s based on André Aciman’s 2007 novel and written by James Ivory (who also co-produced). The film is the last part of Guadagnino’s “Desire” trilogy, following I Am Love and A Bigger Splash. It’s set in 1983 in northern Italy and tells the story of a romantic summer between 17-year-old Elio Perlman and Oliver, a 24-year-old graduate student staying with Elio’s archaeologist father.

Plot in brief
Elio, a bright, bookish teen, spends his summer in a sunlit Italian village with his parents. Oliver, visiting to help with his father’s work, arrives confident and charming. At first they clash, then they grow closer, sharing long conversations, music, and moments of intimacy. Their relationship deepens despite obstacles, including Oliver’s temporary distance and Elio’s longing. As the summer ends, Oliver leaves, and Elio is left heartbroken. Years later, Oliver calls to share news of his life, and Elio is left to reflect on a love that changed him. The film ends with Elio’s quiet, emotional realization of what he shared with Oliver.

Creation and style
- Development and writing: The project started in 2007 when Ivory and others optioned the novel. Ivory co-wrote the screenplay, but Guadagnino eventually directed the film solo.
- Budget and filming: The budget was cut from a planned $12 million to about $3.4 million. Filming took place mainly in Crema, Lombardy, Italy, using 35mm film to capture a warm, timeless look. The production built a large, lifelike set around Villa Albergoni and incorporated local landscapes and details from the 1980s.
- Cast and language: Timothée Chalamet plays Elio, Armie Hammer is Oliver, with supporting roles by Amira Casar, Esther Garrel, and Victoire Du Bois. The dialogue blends English, French, Italian, and even some German in a few scenes.
- Nudity and sensitivity: Chalamet and Hammer both agreed to limit nudity; Guadagnino chose a restrained approach, focusing on emotion and the characters’ inner journeys rather than explicit scenes.
- Music: Guadagnino curated the film’s soundtrack, with three original songs by Sufjan Stevens—Mystery of Love, Visions of Gideon, and a remix of Futile Devices. The music helps tell Elio’s emotional arc and ties the story to the era. A soundtrack album was released.

Release and reception
- Premiere and release: The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2017. Sony Pictures Classics released it in limited U.S. theaters in November 2017, with a wider release in January 2018.
- Critical response: Call Me by Your Name earned widespread critical acclaim for Ivory’s screenplay, Guadagnino’s direction, the cinematography, and the performances of Chalamet, Hammer, and Stuhlbarg. It holds a high rating on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic.
- Awards: It received four nominations at the 90th Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Chalamet, and won Best Adapted Screenplay (Ivory). It also won or earned major nominations at BAFTA, the Critics’ Choice Awards, the Golden Globes, and the Independent Spirit Awards.
- Box office: The movie grossed about $41.9 million worldwide on a modest budget, with most earnings outside the U.S. The film became Sony Pictures Classics’ third-highest-grossing release of 2017.

Themes and impact
The film centers on first love, coming of age, and the awakening of desire. It also explores identity and family through Elio’s Jewish heritage and Oliver’s background. The story is portrayed with a lyrical, intimate style that emphasizes emotional truth over plot drama, and it has developed a large, dedicated international fanbase. It’s often discussed for its nuanced portrayal of a same-sex romance and for the performances that bring Elio’s and Oliver’s experiences to life.

Sequel and later developments
- A sequel has been a topic of discussion for years. A 2019 novel, Find Me, expands the world and characters, and Guadagnino and others have spoken about returning to these characters in some form.
- The project has faced various hurdles, including changing plans, scheduling, and, more recently, actor issues that complicated franchise prospects. As of the early 2020s, the status of a feature film continuation remained uncertain, with involvement from Guadagnino, Chalamet, and others discussed but not finalized.

In short
Call Me by Your Name is a beautifully photographed, emotionally resonant coming-of-age romance set in 1980s northern Italy. Guided by Guadagnino’s intimate storytelling and Ivory’s adaptation of Aciman’s novel, it portrays a summer of love that lingers long after Oliver leaves, celebrated for its performances, music, and cinematic mood.