I read the book in preparation of the film's release and in lieu of the high praise coming out about this small indie film. Written by Andre Aciman only 10 years ago, we witness a story of matched intellect. A young boy named Elio (here played by Timothee Chalamet) lives with his parents in an Italian villa every summer while his father works on research. A summer intern of sorts, Oliver (Armie Hammer) moves in to assist with the work, and from there the two slowly develop mutual understanding, a kinship, and an underlying attraction. My impressions of the book were slight; rarely did the book stray from erotic descriptions until the end, and then the text became something much more impactful and powerful. I could understand the appeal.
Director Luca Guadagnino saw this film as a passion project. What took apparently 10 years to make has emerged as a beautiful, albeit slow-paced story. You might know him from the lovely I Am Love, another Italian romance starring Tilda Swinton. His art is undeniable. The landscapes of northern Italy just melt off the screen in the most euphoric way, and we can understand that love could be in the air. We can also understand Elio, though, a 17 year-old boy who is bored most of the summer and spends his time reading, transcribing music, and swimming.
For a first-time viewer and someone not familiar with the story, one might be shocked at the relationship that forms. The first half of the film sets the scene, and then the last half is our payoff. Oliver and Elio rarely come to terms with each other, and when Elio does finally confront Oliver about his feelings (in a sharply choreographed scene that occurs around a WWI memorial), their dialogue might slip past the casual viewer. Also present is a romance between Elio and Marzia (Esther Garrel), perhaps something Elio pursues more out of jealousy of Oliver's wandering eye than anything else. This isn't a story of forbidden love, and what is surprising is that most (if not all) of the characters are accepting of the possibility of such a romance.
Timothee Chalamet as Elio (remember him as that bookish emo kid who said lines like "that's hella tight" in Lady Bird) is remarkably good as a boy who knows what he wants but has never been faced with a situation like this before. He's awkward, unsure, extremely likable, and then by the end when the film rolls to a conclusion we can see every emotion in his eyes and remember those feelings for ourself. Unlike Oliver (Armie Hammer, who is merely serviceable in his role), who is hesitant and calculated, Elio is what we would expect: young, naive, overcome with love. He dances in the halls and rests his head on his mother's lap for solace. It might look easy, but this is one talented actor.
The most discussed scene (besides an incident with a peach) will be one of the final moments in which Elio and his father (Michael Stuhlbarg) discuss the deeper themes of the movie in frank terms. It's quiet, darkly-lit, and yet a completely enlightening and magical bit of movie magic, one that sheds new light on this professor and gives the audience one of the great on-screen parents. To be gay and imagine one's parents speaking those words, it brings tears to your eyes. Stuhlbarg is present in the majority of the movie, but his performance ultimately whittles down to this brief exchange, and it is remarkable. Likewise with Elio's mother (played by Amira Casar), this film is as much about sexuality as it is about the love of parents and their children. There is love there that no flaw in their son can damage.
What I found improved from book to screen (among others) was the film's conclusion. More heart wrenching on screen but perhaps a more concise ending. We know throughout the film that Oliver's summer stay is short-lived, and that the foolishly in love Elio will ultimately come to terms with this finite encounter. We conclude months later during a heavy snowfall (while the family celebrated Hanukkah). Elio takes a phone call from Oliver in New York, the first time they have spoken since their last goodbye. It's brief, poignant, and a chat that is quickly over. But then the camera rests on Timothee Chalamet's face, and we watch him for what feels like an eternity, and then we begin to see the deeper themes emerge. In the book, I might have thought that both Elio and Oliver might still have a chance to be together, but here we feel for Elio as he realizes that not all good things last. Perhaps here, this was a romance that was never meant to be sustained.
As the credits began to roll, I began to wish that such a film wasn't meant to end, either.
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