A Tender Era, Now Irretrievable

Knowing that James Ivory penned the screenplay, one can readily appreciate the exquisite tenderness and the witty, sophisticated dialogue (the novel is by André Aciman).

The film intelligently, yet sensually, captures the unique emotions of those in love—the undulating shifts between "like" and "dislike," "joy" and "disappointment," and the contradictory elements of tentative caution and bold resolve—all with a refined touch.

Speaking of sophisticated dialogue, how poetic and romantic is the phrase that also serves as the title: "Call me by your name"? It's a whispered declaration of love from Oliver to Elio after they have connected.

“Call me by your name and I'll call you by mine.”

From then on, they call each other by their own names only when they are alone. It is a secret code exchanged between lovers. Their sheer joy upon confessing their feelings makes the viewer's heart soar as well.

Even setting aside their beautiful appearances, their blissful state is truly radiant. This is likely because their uncontainable joy reminds everyone of the sparkle of youth hidden deep within their own hearts.

The beauty of this story lies in its celebration of the complex, nascent emotions that young men experience as they navigate their feelings.

This is, in essence, what makes us human.

Furthermore, how beautiful are the words the father bestows upon his son at the end. Envy and pride, along with affection, emanate from every word as he speaks to his son, who has just experienced new emotions.

If having complex emotions is a testament to being human, then the intelligence granted only to humans is the ability to never deny them.

Their relationship deepens in secret, but Elio's parents, aware of this, quietly rejoice in their son's transformation, gently encouraging his growth and watching over him. Their wish is for him to live a life where he never forgets the heart-wrenching pain and the exhilarating joy that love brings.

How fortunate one must be to be surrounded by people who genuinely wish this for them. If one can cherish even pain, then a wonderful life surely awaits both Elio and Oliver.

What is depicted here is a kind of utopia. With peaches and similar plants appearing frequently as motifs, perhaps "paradise" is a more fitting term.

If people could be freed from strange pride and attachments, and seek only essence, finding joy in things as they are, would it not be possible to make such a world a reality? Or is the very pursuit of such a world too naive?

Perhaps the ability to dream of paradise is what youth is all about. For those who have grown, it is a place they can never return to. That is precisely why this film shines so brightly.

The privilege of adulthood, perhaps, is to be able to feel the preciousness of this unique moment and the beloved emotions born from it, which are so fully depicted in this work.

★★★★★
A masterpiece capturing the unrepeatable sparkle of adolescence.

'Call Me By Your Name'
Directed by Luca Guadagnino
Starring Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, and others
Distributed by Phantom Film / Presented by Culture Publishers, Phantom Film
©Frenesy, La Cinefacture
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Jun Makiguchi
After working for Kyodo News, film festivals, and magazine editing, she became an independent writer. She currently writes film columns and interviews for women's and men's magazines, focusing on lifestyle topics such as fashion, food, and music seen on screen.

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