Capture the Essence
Analyzation of the film Call me by your Name
So I recently rewatched the beauty of this film and saw and felt a lot of unspoken emotions, the difference in my emotions that I once felt when I first watched the film at the age of 14, now rewatching at 20. The detail, the cinematography, the unspoken silence that is seen throughout the movie.
Watching the film in Elio’s perspective as a young teenage boy, figuring out his sexuality , his character, and revealing a summer that will forever alter his life, seeing the film as if we were 17, somewhere in northern Italy.
The touch of musical and archeology that is portrayed in the film, portraying the talented and knowledgeable young Elio. The cinematography that is seen throughout the movie, is so beautiful to me, by being able to capture the “ Summer 1983”. With the clothing, the vehicle’s, the history and of course the soundtrack. This film has meant so much to me and I will be analyzing the film through my perspective and take and also making it known that the book brings much more detail to this and definitely recommend to read as well!!
The opening scene, capturing the scenery that will be played through out the whole movie, the desperation of who will the new student be, how would they act, look like, talk like, the question of who?. That’s when we are introduced to Oliver an American that is firstly portrayed as a rude arrogant American with his “later”. That is a big point into Elio impression on Oliver. Trying to almost feel Oliver, and it is even seen with the parents of how they engage and stare as his demeanor, during breakfast, dinner and conversations. But the attentions shifts into Elio seeing how every detail matter’s to him, by the clothing he wears, his hair, the star of David in his neck seeing almost everything.
Through the film it could be seen as the interest between the two of them is their, but both are stuck on this version that they are trying their hardest to portray to the public. The subtle flirtatious, sarcastic comments that they both give each other as, hinting but in a secretive way only they can understand. It is shown that Elio becomes very intrigued into how Oliver will perceive him, by displaying his relationship with Marzia out loud as if trying to get Oliver attention or even make him “jealous”.
It seems as Oliver is confused on how he feels of Elio, maintaining that boundary between the two to not let anything go to far, again portraying this version of himself to the public. He in a way is almost confusing Elio, in the book its portrayed that Elio believes that Oliver dislikes him or gives him the cold shoulder and this leaves him feeling emotionally confused and left with immense anxiety of this tug and pull game they are playing. Questioning is he interested in me or not?, This intense question continues for almost half of the film.
Until we jump into this scene that I think is so important of Professor Perlman discovery and in this detail of the film I find so beautifully portrayed, the moment in where Oliver sees the statue and slightly graces its face, touching the nose, the lips so gently as he did with Elio once they lay together. I am very found of this the detail in this scene because in a way this is the shift into their relationship. Where Oliver really begins to see Elio.
Elio becomes so overly obsessed with Oliver he is curious of the late nights that Oliver comes back to the Summer house, the dinners he has missed, the feeling of curiosity he recurringly asking “ Ou est Oliver?”. The constant questioning to his mother, father, his friends and even Mafalda. The parents began to recognize these patterns, the father observing Elio and Oliver when they are simply having a conversation, the father beginning to notice. The relationship they tried so hard to hide was being revealed in plain sight.
The nights and days go by where Oliver seems to not see Elio as much, with a rainy night when Annella and Perlman sit with Elio and read the Heptameron book, the mom reciting a poem that strongly resonates with Elio without him realizing, she reads “ handsome young knight is madly in love with the princess, and she to is in love with him, though she seems to not entirely be aware of it, despite the friendship, that blossoms between them or perhaps because of that very friendship, the young knight finds himself, though humbled and speechless, but he is totally unable to bring up the subject of his love, though one day he asks the princess, is it better to speak or to die”. This could in a way resonate with Elio and Oliver’s relationship and the parents at this point are aware of the relationship and resonate with Elio in this scene. Expressing their concerns to Elio, wanting him to live his life to fullest, by the father saying “ Make new friends if the old ones don’t interest you but stop hanging around the house all the time. Books, books, books, always books,”. Wanting Elio to enjoy himself with the time he has know.
Shortly after, Elio expresses the poem to Oliver and it seems almost seems to resonate with him, with the tension of wanting to express and let the whole world know but something setting him back as if a shame could be brought into Oliver. Oliver in a way chooses to die rather than to speak. This part in the film as Elio speaks faintly in the background that realization hits him.
Until the scene when they are both are in town. “ Is there anything you don’t know”.. “If you only knew how little I know about the things that really matter. “.. “ What things that matter”.. “ You know what things. By now you of all people should know”.. “ Why are you telling me this”.. “ Because I thought you should know”.. “ Are you saying what I think your saying”..” Yes”.
This is the moment in were Elio decides to speak, both of them finally being aware of "It” a hidden truth that has been waiting to be unraveled is finally released.
There is a point in the film where it pans into the showing of the cross right after the feelings where exposed. It pans down to Oliver and immediately with no hesitation Elio shares “ I wish I hadn’t spoken.” could this be guilt for what he had just said or both being aware of the risk of their love being talked about. But quickly shifts to the excitement in Elio’s face of wanting to take that risk him choosing to speak rather than to die. The typical excitement that a lot of young adults feels navigating life of taking risks, but with Oliver its almost a setback of wanting to pursue, but could it be his conscious or the shame of his own past of not being accepted that way. But they still share their first intimate moment of a kiss in private where no one could see. This is how most of their relationship is seen very private and hidden and it continued to stay this way. Again portraying a version for themselves for the public to see. But not so well hidden.
Oliver clearly not wanting to do anything that could bring shame to “ be good” but why keep pursuing if the shame was their. Oliver shares the necklace he once had to Elio. As the relationship grew between them the more distant they seemed. Elio retrieving back to asking “ Est-ce qu’Oliver est là? “ wanting to know about his whereabout once again. The mom becoming more aware of the love Elio has for Oliver “ Tu l’aimes bien, n’est-ce pas, Oliver? “ shes asks him, the hesitation Elio has, as if everybody didn’t know already. The mom expressing her support and almost as giving the green light to pursue.
As the distance grew between Oliver and Elio, Elio retrieved back to Marzia as he called she answered, reopening that relationship with her which seemed to be shown since the beginning of the film. Marzia being aware that Elio could hurt her “ Pourquoi? Parce que je pense que tu peux me faire souffrir et que je ne veux pas souffrir. “ Her knowing that Elio intentions aren’t entirely true, and the audience being aware that its only temporary to feed the distraction Elio doesn’t have. Elio being the same way Oliver is to him, mirroring Oliver the same way he was with Elio, him being aware that he has done the same to Marzia. Elio just keeping her around when she says “ parce que tu cherches à blesser, mais parce que tu changes toujours d’avis, alors, on ne sait donc jamais à quoi s’en tenir. Tu m’effraies.” her being scared of not truly getting to ever know Elio for who he is of how hidden he has always been. But both choose to be vulnerable and share the moment of intimacy. This is shown constantly through the film of her being a physical distraction to Elio, being the way he navigates his confusion. Exploring his sexuality but in ways that could be seen as thoughtless and hurtful.
The confusion that Elio faces with himself and his sexuality of who to be with Oliver or Marzia, the raffle of emotions of the distance and the love bombing. The thought of possibly hurting them or bringing shame to yourself. If Oliver was truly concerned of pursuing Elio bringing him to the thought of “ I just dread the thought of having messed you up. I don’t want either of us to have to pay one way or another.”. Why would he continue pursue it. Why would Elio need to know this. If he knew the ending to this story, why continue it.
After continuing to pursue more of Marzia, he seems to explore in other ways and this is where many call it the “ peach scene” this scene seems to very confusing to the audience. But is this scene he emotionally surrenders to the fluidity of his sexuality, by exploring the acceptances in himself of his pleasure and bisexuality. Oliver finding him and finding out the realization that leads Oliver to try to eat the peach symbolizes the act of merging for them to be forever linked but being aware that it wont last forever this leading up to the heartbreak and emotional release in knowing that the summer romance will come to its end. Showing the vulnerability Elio expresses to Oliver.
The Rome trip becomes as almost the last goodbye for the two, the mom suggesting for Elio to join Oliver for a last goodbye, the parents being aware of the heartbreak Elio will feel once its over, allowing him to feel that freedom with Oliver once more before his return to the States.
Mystery of Love by Sufjan Stevens begins to play as we see the scenes of their time together, while repeating Elio and Oliver to each other as they wonder around Rome,“ boundless by the time I cried.. I built your walls around me”. Seeing the connection they both have with each other, portraying young love. As the nights begin to shorten, we see a glimpse in Oliver as watching Elio for the last time, almost seeing the glimpses of memories run through his head. As Oliver brings himself to the train no words are spoken, just silence as not being sure what to say or do. Them slightly just gazing at each other as Elio stares off as the train leaves, the wave of sadness hits him, speaking to his mother in tears. Both parents aware of the heartbreak to come.
This is where Elio’s father gives the best monologue of the film, giving the advice for the one son he has. Sharing that the emotions we feels is the way of life, the privilege one has to feel. “ Right now there’s sorrow. Pain. Don’t kill it and with it the joy you’ve felt.” The heartbreak being the direct proof of the beautiful love you felt and killing those meaningful memories could destroy the feeling of love and limit your ability to feel deeply again.
As the summer comes to an end, winter begins, the sound of the fire, conversations, the windy foggy scene of snow. The winter in northern Italy, begins as the phone rings and the news becomes delivered, the engagement of Oliver, the emotions that are portrayed by just a look, the parents receive the news and there faces saying as much as Elio did.
The heartbreak of missing that person that you wont possibly see again, hearing the news of them moving on so quickly. To think was if Elio was just a distraction, reliving the memories while hearing their voice say your name for the last time. That silence that Elio sits with at the end , knowing that Oliver will be nothing more than a memory as Vision’s of Gideon play, the memory of the summer that forever altered his life. As the screen fades into black.
Thank you for reading this far, I loved this film and will continue to love this film, every part is so meaningful and remember loving deeply is a privilege never let any love you have experience ruin that for you. Love is a beautiful thing to experience and never forget that!!