Timothée Chalamet (left) and Michael Stuhlbarg
On a frigid Wednesday evening, my “gay of honor,” Victor Lirio, and I had a spontaneous date night here in New York City.
Following my afternoon at the theater, I headed over to Victor’s apartment before heading to a nearby sushi restaurant.
While there, amidst discussions about theater, travel and future plans, Victor asked, “Have you already seen ‘Call Me by Your Name?’” I said I haven’t yet, and came up with a brilliant idea to head to Paris Theater in Midtown to catch it.
I grabbed my phone and purchased our tickets for the 9:55 p.m. screening. We would wait at the Plaza Hotel’s food hall and enjoy a glass of wine, as the movie house was just across the street.
The cinema itself wasn’t full of people, which gave us wide berth to sit wherever we wanted. It was the perfect setting to watch the intimate film for the first time. It was also great that Victor and I weren’t seated close to anyone.
“Call Me by Your Name” is a Luca Guadagnino film, written by James Ivory and based on the André Aciman novel. It stars Timothée Chalamet as 17-year-old Elio and Armie Hammer as Oliver, a grad student who is a friend of Elio’s father, Mr. Perlman (played by Michael Stuhlbarg).
In the early ’80s, Oliver is invited by Elio’s parents to spend the summer with their family in northern Italy as that year’s intern, helping with Mr. Perlman’s work. The two develop a friendship and, later on, a romance.
The film itself is a sweet, slow burn, without fast-moving action or quick dialogue delivery. One can almost feel the languid pace of the hot summer days spent taking walks through town, dancing with friends at night, or having a sexual awakening.
Elio spends time flirting with his friend Marzia (Esther Garrel), while also feeling an intense attraction for Oliver. Everything feels very real and honest, apparently due to the director’s meticulous methods, not allowing any false moments to be filmed.
The cast gives excellent, understated performances. You never get the feeling that anyone is acting, making you feel that you are as much a part of this summer as everyone else.
Timothée lets you see this story from his eyes, allowing us access into his heart. He will undoubtedly keep reaping notices, as well as acting nominations. I won’t spoil anything, except to say that he should get an Oscar nod for what he does as the end credits roll. (And he did!)
Armie gives a solid performance as Oliver, handsome and seemingly invulnerable, until he lets his walls come down.
However, the one scene that gutted both Victor and me contained a monologue beautifully delivered by Michael Stuhlbarg.
Subtly and tenderly, he tells Elio that he noticed a very beautiful friendship between him and Oliver, and how that friendship is something envied.
He also says how other parents would pray that something like this would go away, but that he isn’t such a parent, and to let himself feel the pain, adding that most people by the time they’re 30 have very little of the heart to offer.
It is a speech that makes this film so universally beloved: it doesn’t matter if you’re straight or gay. To hear your mother or father express understanding and acceptance is perhaps the one thing many young people desire the most.
Not all of us have been so fortunate.
“Call Me by Your Name” will be released in Manila on Jan. 31. If you don’t mind an easy pace, gorgeous cinematography (by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom) and visuals of northern Italy, I’d highly recommend it.
But make sure you bring tissues, a hand to hold and a shoulder to cry on. You’re going to need it.