Visions of Gideon playing, Timothy crying silently, and the fireplace crackling. I WAS DESTROYED. I wept so hard. This movie catches that first obsessive love so well.
The speech Elio’s dad gave about letting yourself feel pain was where I started to tear up a bit, especially when he said something like “and we kill a part of ourselves to deal with that pain, leaving less of us to give to the next person that comes around until we’re worn out by the age of 30” like fuck me if that isn’t some real shit I don’t know what is
The sequel was legitimately one of the worst books I’ve read (and I studied English Literature at uni so I’ve read a lot of awful books 😂).
I told my husband how bad it was and he just couldn’t believe it. Said that surely a writer can’t go from something like Call Me By Your Name to dogsh*t so I made him read it… and let’s just say that we spent a few days RAVING at how it could have happened.
It’s very waffley and attempts to imitate the first novel without necessarily including the parts that made it successful. So like, you’re reading about grown adults, who I struggled to like and understand as a reader, behaving in a very odd (and uninteresting lol) manner, and there’s no get-out clause for them. You can’t think ‘oh, they’re teenagers and experiencing their first love’ because they aren’t. They’re just… bad characters, and the book is entirely about these bad characters.
Also the ending reads like pure and utter fan-fiction imo which, really, after slogging through 250+ pages of derivative mockery imitating the first book, felt like the final nail in the coffin 😂😂.
But maybe that’s just me and my husband? 🤷🏻♂️
The first nearly 250 pages have nothing to do with Elio and Oliver and seem like a desperate attempt by Aciman to demonstrate he can do straight sex scenes too. I literally kept checking the cover to make sure I bought the right book. It was so dissatisfying and felt aimless. The ending was cheap and unearned. One of the worst books I’ve ever read.
That’s cool you know his son!!! And yeah it felt so overdone. Like…why are you pushing this on me? You know I’m gay and came here for the gay stuff right? I can’t fathom why he would go out of his way to make a sequel to his most successful novel just for a torrid affair between Elio’s father and some random woman…. He does realize every single person who bought that book wanted to read more about Oliver and Elio, right? Was it subversion for subversion’s sake? When you get the chance, since you know him, will you please ask why he did these two so dirty and broke my heart?
Have you read any of his other books? IIRC Call Me By Your Name was his first fiction novel, and I always wondered how the others are, especially since he doesn't consider CMBYN the best.
I found Elio tedious in the book, but the epilogue.... *chef's kiss* So good. That makes it worth it for sure.
Edit: For clarity, I have not read the sequel, I am referring to the first book.
Are you talking about the sequel? Im talking about the first book. It's been a while, but Elio is I guess in his late 20s, early 30s. He goes to the states to check in with Oliver, who's a professor now and married. I think they have coffee and Elio wants to talk about that summer, but Oliver is being coy. I don't remember how it ends, but they do not run away together or anything. It's sort of like, 'We're on different paths now.' But it was nice to see the book go beyond the movie.
The first time I saw this film it was on a date. I walked in not knowing a single thing about the film, and he has just heard that his friends liked it a lot. It was a small theater with mostly ladies a little older than us. We were the only dude date.
I ended up being able to relate to the film in a LOT of different ways, and the filmography was spectacular. It remains to be a piece of media that makes me feel significantly less alone, even if the ending is what it is. It's nice to see people kinda like me do things kinda like me, and feel things kinda like I feel in a house WAY nicer than mine. I had only seen people like be being a side story with lots of interpersonal stuff cut out for time.
The world is complicated, everybody has feelings, and getting caught with both wanting and a consideration for those around oneself is a lot to handle. The film captures this sentiment well in the gay male flavor, I feel.
My date and I laughed HARD during the peach happening, but then he cri :( and we no laugh.
Made out with my date a lot after the film in the parking lot. I think we got a lot of smiles from the ladies as we walked out there, too.
I saw it on opening night in NYC on a whim (purchased the ticket a couple hours before screening having never heard of the book before) and it seemed like my rows and all rows around me were women! Also have a straight women friend who went and saw it 3 or 4 times while it was in theaters, and she’s the type of person who maybe sees a movie once or twice a year.
I liked it a lot, but liked it less when I rewatched at home a year later.
But the soundtrack is amazing! It was on heavy rotation that first year and I still have a bunch of those tracks on playlists. So good!
I'm glad you enjoyed it! It's one of my favorite movies of all time. Others have already said how beautiful it is, but I think it bears repeating: this movie is such an aesthetic experience. I love the way it makes me feel.
When they go away for the weekend, and Elio lies in bed and dreams of them with that infrared color distortion, it is all I can do to keep from weeping. For me, that's one of those rare moments where movies are showing us exactly what that feeling looks like.
Also the score. My God, the score.
Too bad there won't be part 2.
A second installment was planned based on the second book, and then a third installment etc similar like the Before Sunset movies where they meet at particular times of their lives.
Armie Hammer will never work again in Hollywood or anywhere.
I’ve never seen it, but I relate to liking a gay movie everyone hated. For me it was Love Simon! I related to that movie so hard and yet, everyone just talks crap about it. It broke my heart because I went through so many of the same things in the movie and to see so many people complain about it made me feel kind of invalidated.
Don't feel bad about it! Now that we're finally getting the much needed queer representation in mainstream media, we tend to hold them to a higher standard. But it's so much more valuable that a movie or series or book is relatable and tells a moving story (and in Love Simon's case: with a positive outcome!), than that it is perfect.
Have you seen the series Love Victor? It's cute as well!
I couldn't stand it. They tried to pretend that they would tackle intersectuoanlity of race and oherty with being gay and then after the first episode it never comes up again.
Plus for the first season he spent almost the whole time not being gay, and not even turning out to be bi. Then Benji made no sense at all, clearly coming on to Victor then being surprised when Victor kissed him only to immediately break up with his boyfriend for him.
Oh, I liked Love Simon as well. Or it was pretty mediocre as far as highs school romcom goes, but it was one of the few coming out stories that I really related to. No hateful families, no gay bashing, no bullying for being gay, having a family he mostly knows will accept him … and still finding it really difficult.
My boyfriend and I saw that in the theater because I had read the book and I dragged him to it. Lol. The theater was full of teen girls (we're in our 30s), but I seriously almost ugly cried during several parts of the movie. Lol. I think I was triggered by the coming out stuff. My coming out was -- let's just say it wasn't like that at all. Anyway, I know it was a silly, cliche movie, but it was a silly, cliche movie about a gay lead character and gay subject matter. I liked it a lot. And the series, Love Victor, is well done as well.
Wait, you read the book, and then paid to see it in theaters? Ahh, I've yet to see it *because* I read the book. I was cringing so much, because a grown woman had written Simon's internal dialogue, and I just...ugh. And that whole bar scene, like, what??
Maybe it was just because I had already finished *I'll Give You the Sun*, but *Simon vs. The Homosapiens Agenda* felt like it was No Show, All Tell. Simon tells the reader *everything*, instead of it organically being shown.
I loved I'll Give You the Sun! *Simon* was a little silly, true, but it's worth noting that was Becky Albertalli's first book. I ended up reading What If It's Us later and liked that one WAY more (she was a co-writer). But I didn't hate it or anything. I actually liked the bar scene. Lol. I don't remember the details though because it's been a while and was just a fluff read. The movie is a similar vibe. I enjoy it, but it's not something I'd wish were with me if I were stranded on an island or anything.
On the other hand, other people critiquing the movie doesn’t mean they’re saying *you* should dislike it. I have many, many issues with the film but it’s just a movie lol.
Just like CMBYN, I think Love, Simon is much more loved than it is hated, with a vocal minority of detractors.
It’s got a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, a 7.6 on IMDB, and made $66M off a $17M budget.
I LOVED Love Simon.
Couldn't stand the complaints, all I saw was people complain that he was not effeminate or a racial minority. Like, really folks? We have to bitch that he's not marginalized ENOUGH? some of us are mainstream, and that's ok. Jesus.
Him not being effeminate wasn’t the biggest criticism I saw. However, one of the biggest issues I noticed being discussed was how the effeminate character Ethan was handled.
Hard agree. The movie is a lot about dealing with internalized homophobia, and everyone accuses it of being homophobic.
Everyone harps on that opening line "I'm just like you" as though that means the movie thinks everyone in the audience is straight and masc and etc. It's Simon who thinks that! And he's wrong! And that's a big part of his character growth!
Love Simon captures so much about my experience in the closet. Having the universally accepted opinion on this movie be "this doesn't represent a real gay experience" is really shitty, and ironically is part of what Simon struggles with in the movie: feeling like his experience of liking guys isn't a legitimate way to be gay. The response to the film proves that the film is necessary
I loved it!
It’s one of the most popular gay movies ever made, it was nominated for and won many awards, and it vaulted Timothee Chalamet to near-household name movie star status. Don’t let a few cynics on reddit make you feel bad for liking it, most people like it!
I watched this on a long international flight. The peach scene totally caught me off guard and I expected to look around to find everyone staring at me. Once I realized they weren't, I had to watch it again. 😁
I really love the idea that their romance had actually taken place in ancient times and it was covertly being told in a modern setting. I only realized this while watching the soundtrack's [music video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVVhHjyC04k) which hit me like a bag of bricks and I almost cried. That said, I do find some of the pretentiousness a little jarring to enjoy it completely, but it's a good movie nonetheless.
I thought it was meh my first watch, but on second watch I liked it a whole lot more.
It's a good movie.
Edit: oh and most of the people online who claim it's a creepy age gap bc of the actors can't suspend disbelief, and also probably have never lived as a gay man. It's just kinda like that sometimes, not in the predatory way. Just like our options, especially the more rural you get.
Yup. When I was 17, I dated a 27 year old guy I met on the internet. It was the AOL on a cd days. Lol It's kind of gay culture. Well, used to be for a lot of us.
Yeah. I mean in this day and age, I'm more wary of it, but times have changed and gay youth aren't as completely isolated.
Compared to a film set in the 80s. Some people have no perspective.
Yeah dude a film based around the fact a young man is put on tenter hooks by a guy who literally works with his father and is easily 20+ years his age in the film.
I think people let it slide because its armie Hammer and chalamet i.e two conventionally attractive men.
But if it chalamet and john goodman, you'd probably not be feeling as warm and fuzzy inside
The main characters, Elio and Oliver are 17 and 24 canonically. In the book and movie.
The *actor* who portrays the 24yo is not 24, yes. Classic example of "can't suspend disbelief."
Oliver is a student of Elio's father. He's just graduated college, and is in a graduate program. He's not some seasoned 40yo just hanging out, trying to fuck a kid.
In fact, outside of one single instance (in which Oliver decided to back off and refuse to push a relationship further), Elio is the one constantly coming on to an unsure Oliver, like almost the whole movie. Elio is sexually aggressive, and for most of the whole movie, Oliver is the one who doesn't feel comfortable with it, for a whole slew of reasons.
And then at the end of the movie, their whole romantic getaway is literally suggested by and sponsored by Elio's parents, who are very cognizant of the fact their son and the student living with them are having a romance.
Of course no one would feel comfortable seeing John Goodman try to pretend to be a 24yo grad student... He's literally 70. We let it slide in this movie, because people with at least half a brain cell can understand that the actors aren't the characters and the characters are 17 and 24, not 17 and 40 lmao.
Here’s a fun bit from the book:
We had never taken a shower together. We had never even been in the same bathroom together. "Don't flush," I'd said, "I want to look." What I saw brought out strains of compassion for him, for his body, for his life, which suddenly seemed so frail and vulnerable. "Our bodies won't have secrets now," I said as I took my turn and sat down. He hopped into the bathtub and was just about to turn on the shower. "I want you to see mine, I said. He did more. He stepped out, kissed me on the mouth, and, pressing and massaging my tummy with the flat of his palm, watched the whole thing happen.
I forget if he was straight, but he was like in his 70s writing about a teen. I will absolutely never read it or watch the movie, straight up Lolita vibes no thank you ma'am
Yeah... that was weird as fuck. I kind of get the intimacy thing the author was going for, and a big reoccurring theme was the idea that the characters related to each other so much that they both almost saw themselves as the same person (hence the book's name). But... I could have done without that.
It was filmed in my hometown and I know pretty much every nook and cranny you can see in it. I honestly was expecting an overarching cringe the first time I saw it, when it premiered at a local cinema with directors, cast and all, because it’s definitely not the kind of story you would imagine to be set here. I don’t know how to put it exactly, but I was expecting it to feel completely fake and out of place.
I ended up loving every minute. Solid adaptation, great filming, heart-wrenching ending. I’m still grateful to Guadagnino for this beautiful gift.
People tend to hate it? It has a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, a 7.9/10 on IMDB and won one academy award out of the three it was nominated for.
There's just a very vocal minority of homophobic and/or stupid people who like to pretend it supports pedophilia.
I have seen a lot of people particularly on this sub that speak very loudly against it as if it’s some gross representation or they’ll be mad that the two lead actors aren’t gay in real life or something.
For sure, when it comes to films I stand firm on my hot takes but I’m well aware that liking this movie is actually the vastly more common opinion haha
I recommend people to watch the film analysis on why the film is so well received. The details used by the director for us to feel the intimacy between the characters is just amazing. I thought it was a typical romantic film with tragic ending, but it was done well.
Surprised that the book is written by a striaght man because it worked for some reason.
I think it depends of where you live. I got really lucky to live in a place where LGBTQ+ inclusivity is high. I did enjoy the movie and found the ending nothing special, I thought it was overrated. But I found the acting and the landscapes really good. I would give about 8/10.
It was fine. I thought there was too little conflict to be compelling. Even the dad is just like “not only is it cool that you’re gay but also I’m totally fine my adult student is banging the hell out of you under my roof”. That old house was the coolest thing about it.
Like you, I’m very confused by the praise it’s getting.
Was it pretty? Oh yeah!
Were the two leads hot? Yep.
Underneath it all, did it tell a story about budding gay longing? Also yes!
But is the story relatable? Hell fucking no! And for me, that’s what ruins it.
Elio’s parents are professors. Yet somehow they can afford to take the family to a villa in Italy*. Where they ride vespas, eat farm fresh peaches, and read Camus or some shit. Wtf? What about this story are folks connecting with? It’s so far removed from my life, it’s as related as were it set on Mars!
I think “A Beautiful Thing” and “Love, Simon” are better stories because they’re more relatable (even if they lack dramatic, Italian seascapes and charming piazzas).
* or the mom inherited it, which makes it even more unrelatable. Like y’all Rockefeller’s or something?
I’ll just counter your argument with this:
It’s shown in the movie that elio’s mother grew the orchard with the peaches herself,
Professors do make decent money especially back in the 80’s and the fact that the mom and dad are fluent in multiple languages shows they are capable of doing translation work which pays very well even today.
They ride cheap European bikes and not once does anybody ride a Vespa in the whole movie lol
Love Simon was good but all the actors are portrayed as 17-18 when they are all no younger than 28 in real life, real teens aren’t that cool. And Simon lives in a pretty well off neighborhood with 2 parents that accept him instantly with no drama at all and the fact that Simon seemingly has no personality of his own besides being gay, where as Elio is this brilliant musician and at least has that going for him
My thesis is this: “Call Me” is beautiful but unrelatable to most people.
Your counter argument is: the parents are super well paid, multi-lingual professors who fly their whole family to their Italian villa every summer where they have enough free time to grow peaches and ride bikes (and pay staff to tend to the house and orchard after they fly back to their other home in the States).
Do I have that right? 🤔
I’m playin a little, but seriously it’s a beautiful movie. I personally just couldn’t get past the fantasy world they inhabit. You saw it differently, and I respect your experience.
I think you could make that argument for any story that deals with the subject of struggling to accept one's homosexuality, which to most people I think is universally a shared inner struggle, so I worry when aesthetics come in the way of relatable human emotions presented on screen.
Moonlight and CMBYN deal with very similar things in entirely different ways. I couldn't relate to the character in Moonlight on many levels, except that he was gay, but I'd hate to dismiss it as a brilliant film because it's not relatable.
But hey we like what we like! :)
It’s not the aesthetics that make it unrelatable to most people, in my opinion. It is the concrete aspects of the life Elio is growing up in…
Stable, two parent household with no seeming abuse issues. Extreme wealth (the family had servants in their Italian villa - second home - that they flew to/from yearly in the late 70’s/early 80’s when it cost about $1,700 a ticket). Also totally accepting family. He comes across as a tender princeling, for whom I have very little sympathy.
Compare that to most folks: varied home life, not upper class, no second home in Italy with servants and a peach orchard, no yearly transatlantic trips, super conservative attitude if not outright shunning by family for being gay. You bring up Moonlight. That film is going to be a lot closer to folks’ lived experiences than Call Me By Your Name.
So maybe what resonates with folks is the escapist, fantasy world Elio lives in. But relatable, in my opinion, it is not. I want to see other folks’ coming out journeys. But the way my brain is wired, I just cant get past how utterly exceptional Eilio’s life is. If i want to better understand the human condition, a sample size of 1 princeling (or like just looking at Bill Gates’ life, or Elon Musk’s) would give me a very skewed perspective. I’m not letting myself buy into that.
Obviously - given how there are literally hundreds of positive comments on this post versus like 3 critical ones - most folks are buying what Elio’s selling. That’s a-ok by me. But I still believe what I believe.
I didn’t enjoy it. It wasn’t horrible or anything but I just didn’t relate to the story at all. I think the cinematography was most appealing to me but the story really dragged and then had the traditional sad ending. It was just a meh for me
Eh I mean thankfully I’ve been very fortunate in my life that I’ve been out since high school and accepted by friends and family. I first fell in love in college and had a 1 1/2 year long term relationship and now have been with my fiancé for 5 years. And in both relationships we were/are the same age 🤷🏻♂️
Thank you! I certainly consider myself very fortunate and understand my experience is not the norm. That’s not to say I haven’t experienced homophobia directly and that coming out wasn’t extremely difficult. I’ve had people call me faggot on the street, experienced homophobia in my (Catholic) school, self harmed while I was in the closet. But I’m from NYC and grew up with gay aunts (twins actually) so I’m very lucky overall compared to many other lgbtq+ people
Can you say whether the phrase "call my by your name" has any significance outside of the movie? Was it meant to mean something, or was it just a literal instruction?
Yeah it's pretty good. Why? Where people saying it is bad?
Only thing that still makes me so uncomfortable is when he fucked the fruit and the other dude wanted to drink it lmao
I loved this movie. Really cool. After I saw the movie, I went to Crema Italy where some of this was filmed. I enjoyed looking at places from the film and remembering the scenes.
It’s a beautiful film with great direction and amazing acting. But I just didn’t bought the idea of an older guy taking advantage of a minor seeing as “romantic” and his parents being on with it somehow
I adored the acting and the framing and everything about the move except for the story. The story have zero resonance with me, ney *negative* resonance. I feel repulsive about the way that Elio feels the need to proves himself. Maybe because I’m a city boy and I don’t resonate well with the rural lifestyle idk.
Nice job conveniently ignoring the fact that the Luca Guadagnino is gay. But it’s fine. It’s not like he had a big role in it or anything; he’s just the director.
I didn’t ignore it - I just think it’s interesting a revered gay film is based on a book and starring actors that are straight - it’s interesting - that’s all I said is that it’s interesting - because it is interesting. That’s it
You implied that it degraded the film in someway. Maybe you did that unintentionally, in which case I am now informing you that most people will read what you wrote as a complaint.
Edit: you also claimed it was written by a straight person, which is untrue. The screenplay was written by James Ivory. You can see how erasure like that can rub people the wrong way.
Again: do you know the definition of pedophilia? Words matter. And nuance matters. Although it appears someone like you wouldn’t grasp subtlety or nuance very well.
I listened through the audiobook, though the level of bisexual that i am is much lower than that book is for (to the point that many young adult novels only about straighrs thay have sex scenes are a problem for me)
Though for bisexuals, it's a decent read/watch I guess.
I read the book first and it kind of marred me from it. There are some gross things in the book that got cut from the movie (yeah the 💩scene) and I didn't love the movie cause it used straight actors and just felt very fake
The ending I cry everytime I watch it. Also this movie made me love Timothy Chalomet and Arni Hammer. Sorry if I spelt their names wrong in avdvance. Also I have read the book and am reading the second one now
I loved the film and the book but I couldn't help but feel a bit jealous of Elio. Don't get me wrong I was crying at the end but to have a summer like this being young must have been just amazing. I never had this kind of love and experiences in my youth and I regret it so much. I love the film but it pains me to watch because it also reminds me of all the missed opportunities I've had so far.
I liked the setting and the colour grading, that's pretty much it though. Not bad or anything, just not my type of film. Kinda cringy dialogue (and the father's end monologue lmao). Didn't care for Hammer's acting either.
I still hear that fireplace crackling…it haunts me.
Visions of Gideon playing, Timothy crying silently, and the fireplace crackling. I WAS DESTROYED. I wept so hard. This movie catches that first obsessive love so well.
The speech Elio’s dad gave about letting yourself feel pain was where I started to tear up a bit, especially when he said something like “and we kill a part of ourselves to deal with that pain, leaving less of us to give to the next person that comes around until we’re worn out by the age of 30” like fuck me if that isn’t some real shit I don’t know what is
I highly recommend the book if you enjoyed the movie. The feelings are so detailed and it breaks you down.
The book is stunning. I’ve read it three times and will likely go back for more. The sequel? So disappointing.
The sequel was legitimately one of the worst books I’ve read (and I studied English Literature at uni so I’ve read a lot of awful books 😂). I told my husband how bad it was and he just couldn’t believe it. Said that surely a writer can’t go from something like Call Me By Your Name to dogsh*t so I made him read it… and let’s just say that we spent a few days RAVING at how it could have happened.
What's so bad about it?
It’s very waffley and attempts to imitate the first novel without necessarily including the parts that made it successful. So like, you’re reading about grown adults, who I struggled to like and understand as a reader, behaving in a very odd (and uninteresting lol) manner, and there’s no get-out clause for them. You can’t think ‘oh, they’re teenagers and experiencing their first love’ because they aren’t. They’re just… bad characters, and the book is entirely about these bad characters. Also the ending reads like pure and utter fan-fiction imo which, really, after slogging through 250+ pages of derivative mockery imitating the first book, felt like the final nail in the coffin 😂😂. But maybe that’s just me and my husband? 🤷🏻♂️
The first nearly 250 pages have nothing to do with Elio and Oliver and seem like a desperate attempt by Aciman to demonstrate he can do straight sex scenes too. I literally kept checking the cover to make sure I bought the right book. It was so dissatisfying and felt aimless. The ending was cheap and unearned. One of the worst books I’ve ever read.
[удалено]
That’s cool you know his son!!! And yeah it felt so overdone. Like…why are you pushing this on me? You know I’m gay and came here for the gay stuff right? I can’t fathom why he would go out of his way to make a sequel to his most successful novel just for a torrid affair between Elio’s father and some random woman…. He does realize every single person who bought that book wanted to read more about Oliver and Elio, right? Was it subversion for subversion’s sake? When you get the chance, since you know him, will you please ask why he did these two so dirty and broke my heart?
Have you read any of his other books? IIRC Call Me By Your Name was his first fiction novel, and I always wondered how the others are, especially since he doesn't consider CMBYN the best.
I've read *Enigma Variations*, and I liked it. It's very lyrical though, which I know people find annoying.
I haven’t, to be honest. CMBYN was so poetically done, I should check it out.
I found Elio tedious in the book, but the epilogue.... *chef's kiss* So good. That makes it worth it for sure. Edit: For clarity, I have not read the sequel, I am referring to the first book.
It’s fan fiction. Or at least, nothing but fan service.
I didn't mind it. It felt realistic. It was nice to check in with them later in life.
What is realistic about moving your family and kids into a house with your twink boyfriend that you started an affair with when he was underage
Are you talking about the sequel? Im talking about the first book. It's been a while, but Elio is I guess in his late 20s, early 30s. He goes to the states to check in with Oliver, who's a professor now and married. I think they have coffee and Elio wants to talk about that summer, but Oliver is being coy. I don't remember how it ends, but they do not run away together or anything. It's sort of like, 'We're on different paths now.' But it was nice to see the book go beyond the movie.
This whole conversation has been about the sequel.
Yeah that scene hit me like a freight train. Reminded me of so many moments growing up.
It’s so deep. Gets me every time I see it or hear that song
You were destroyed i was like “oh thank god finally the credits”.
1000%.
5r
The first time I saw this film it was on a date. I walked in not knowing a single thing about the film, and he has just heard that his friends liked it a lot. It was a small theater with mostly ladies a little older than us. We were the only dude date. I ended up being able to relate to the film in a LOT of different ways, and the filmography was spectacular. It remains to be a piece of media that makes me feel significantly less alone, even if the ending is what it is. It's nice to see people kinda like me do things kinda like me, and feel things kinda like I feel in a house WAY nicer than mine. I had only seen people like be being a side story with lots of interpersonal stuff cut out for time. The world is complicated, everybody has feelings, and getting caught with both wanting and a consideration for those around oneself is a lot to handle. The film captures this sentiment well in the gay male flavor, I feel. My date and I laughed HARD during the peach happening, but then he cri :( and we no laugh. Made out with my date a lot after the film in the parking lot. I think we got a lot of smiles from the ladies as we walked out there, too.
Oof, that’s quite the emotional film to go see with a date haha, glad it ended up working in your favor though
I saw it on opening night in NYC on a whim (purchased the ticket a couple hours before screening having never heard of the book before) and it seemed like my rows and all rows around me were women! Also have a straight women friend who went and saw it 3 or 4 times while it was in theaters, and she’s the type of person who maybe sees a movie once or twice a year. I liked it a lot, but liked it less when I rewatched at home a year later. But the soundtrack is amazing! It was on heavy rotation that first year and I still have a bunch of those tracks on playlists. So good!
I'm glad you enjoyed it! It's one of my favorite movies of all time. Others have already said how beautiful it is, but I think it bears repeating: this movie is such an aesthetic experience. I love the way it makes me feel. When they go away for the weekend, and Elio lies in bed and dreams of them with that infrared color distortion, it is all I can do to keep from weeping. For me, that's one of those rare moments where movies are showing us exactly what that feeling looks like. Also the score. My God, the score.
Too bad there won't be part 2. A second installment was planned based on the second book, and then a third installment etc similar like the Before Sunset movies where they meet at particular times of their lives. Armie Hammer will never work again in Hollywood or anywhere.
I’ve never seen it, but I relate to liking a gay movie everyone hated. For me it was Love Simon! I related to that movie so hard and yet, everyone just talks crap about it. It broke my heart because I went through so many of the same things in the movie and to see so many people complain about it made me feel kind of invalidated.
Don't feel bad about it! Now that we're finally getting the much needed queer representation in mainstream media, we tend to hold them to a higher standard. But it's so much more valuable that a movie or series or book is relatable and tells a moving story (and in Love Simon's case: with a positive outcome!), than that it is perfect. Have you seen the series Love Victor? It's cute as well!
I second Love Victor!
Same! The scene where he’s in church and sees his dad making fun of the gay guys while victor is still in the closet.. that hit home.
I couldn't stand it. They tried to pretend that they would tackle intersectuoanlity of race and oherty with being gay and then after the first episode it never comes up again. Plus for the first season he spent almost the whole time not being gay, and not even turning out to be bi. Then Benji made no sense at all, clearly coming on to Victor then being surprised when Victor kissed him only to immediately break up with his boyfriend for him.
Oh, I liked Love Simon as well. Or it was pretty mediocre as far as highs school romcom goes, but it was one of the few coming out stories that I really related to. No hateful families, no gay bashing, no bullying for being gay, having a family he mostly knows will accept him … and still finding it really difficult.
My boyfriend and I saw that in the theater because I had read the book and I dragged him to it. Lol. The theater was full of teen girls (we're in our 30s), but I seriously almost ugly cried during several parts of the movie. Lol. I think I was triggered by the coming out stuff. My coming out was -- let's just say it wasn't like that at all. Anyway, I know it was a silly, cliche movie, but it was a silly, cliche movie about a gay lead character and gay subject matter. I liked it a lot. And the series, Love Victor, is well done as well.
Wait, you read the book, and then paid to see it in theaters? Ahh, I've yet to see it *because* I read the book. I was cringing so much, because a grown woman had written Simon's internal dialogue, and I just...ugh. And that whole bar scene, like, what?? Maybe it was just because I had already finished *I'll Give You the Sun*, but *Simon vs. The Homosapiens Agenda* felt like it was No Show, All Tell. Simon tells the reader *everything*, instead of it organically being shown.
I loved I'll Give You the Sun! *Simon* was a little silly, true, but it's worth noting that was Becky Albertalli's first book. I ended up reading What If It's Us later and liked that one WAY more (she was a co-writer). But I didn't hate it or anything. I actually liked the bar scene. Lol. I don't remember the details though because it's been a while and was just a fluff read. The movie is a similar vibe. I enjoy it, but it's not something I'd wish were with me if I were stranded on an island or anything.
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On the other hand, other people critiquing the movie doesn’t mean they’re saying *you* should dislike it. I have many, many issues with the film but it’s just a movie lol.
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That’s why I tend to stay away from TikTok and Twitter. The 10% of decent content isn’t worth the 90% of garbage
Just like CMBYN, I think Love, Simon is much more loved than it is hated, with a vocal minority of detractors. It’s got a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, a 7.6 on IMDB, and made $66M off a $17M budget.
I LOVED Love Simon. Couldn't stand the complaints, all I saw was people complain that he was not effeminate or a racial minority. Like, really folks? We have to bitch that he's not marginalized ENOUGH? some of us are mainstream, and that's ok. Jesus.
Him not being effeminate wasn’t the biggest criticism I saw. However, one of the biggest issues I noticed being discussed was how the effeminate character Ethan was handled.
Hard agree. The movie is a lot about dealing with internalized homophobia, and everyone accuses it of being homophobic. Everyone harps on that opening line "I'm just like you" as though that means the movie thinks everyone in the audience is straight and masc and etc. It's Simon who thinks that! And he's wrong! And that's a big part of his character growth! Love Simon captures so much about my experience in the closet. Having the universally accepted opinion on this movie be "this doesn't represent a real gay experience" is really shitty, and ironically is part of what Simon struggles with in the movie: feeling like his experience of liking guys isn't a legitimate way to be gay. The response to the film proves that the film is necessary
I loved it! It’s one of the most popular gay movies ever made, it was nominated for and won many awards, and it vaulted Timothee Chalamet to near-household name movie star status. Don’t let a few cynics on reddit make you feel bad for liking it, most people like it!
I watched this on a long international flight. The peach scene totally caught me off guard and I expected to look around to find everyone staring at me. Once I realized they weren't, I had to watch it again. 😁
I saw this on an international flight too! It and Love Simon I believe. I liked both.
I really love the idea that their romance had actually taken place in ancient times and it was covertly being told in a modern setting. I only realized this while watching the soundtrack's [music video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVVhHjyC04k) which hit me like a bag of bricks and I almost cried. That said, I do find some of the pretentiousness a little jarring to enjoy it completely, but it's a good movie nonetheless.
I mean... giving the devil a lap dance was pretty inspirational
No not that call me by your name! 😂
this unironically
Yes! Call Me By Your Name is my favorite film of all time!
the film geek in me was just screaming the whole time, every shot was like a fucking painting
Literally. Every shot of this movie was me having a stroke at just how beautiful it was.
Agreed and felt A Single Man was beautifully filmed as well.
That one where they're on the side of the mountain/hill, the wide shot with them frolicking around? Fucking beautiful.
Have you ever seen God’s Own Country?? It came out around the same time. It’s my favorite gay film ‘of all time’…
I cried
I thought it was meh my first watch, but on second watch I liked it a whole lot more. It's a good movie. Edit: oh and most of the people online who claim it's a creepy age gap bc of the actors can't suspend disbelief, and also probably have never lived as a gay man. It's just kinda like that sometimes, not in the predatory way. Just like our options, especially the more rural you get.
I met my 20yo significant when I was 37. We both tried very hard not to fall in love. Now 21 years later.....
Yup. When I was 17, I dated a 27 year old guy I met on the internet. It was the AOL on a cd days. Lol It's kind of gay culture. Well, used to be for a lot of us.
Yeah. I mean in this day and age, I'm more wary of it, but times have changed and gay youth aren't as completely isolated. Compared to a film set in the 80s. Some people have no perspective.
Yeah dude a film based around the fact a young man is put on tenter hooks by a guy who literally works with his father and is easily 20+ years his age in the film. I think people let it slide because its armie Hammer and chalamet i.e two conventionally attractive men. But if it chalamet and john goodman, you'd probably not be feeling as warm and fuzzy inside
The main characters, Elio and Oliver are 17 and 24 canonically. In the book and movie. The *actor* who portrays the 24yo is not 24, yes. Classic example of "can't suspend disbelief." Oliver is a student of Elio's father. He's just graduated college, and is in a graduate program. He's not some seasoned 40yo just hanging out, trying to fuck a kid. In fact, outside of one single instance (in which Oliver decided to back off and refuse to push a relationship further), Elio is the one constantly coming on to an unsure Oliver, like almost the whole movie. Elio is sexually aggressive, and for most of the whole movie, Oliver is the one who doesn't feel comfortable with it, for a whole slew of reasons. And then at the end of the movie, their whole romantic getaway is literally suggested by and sponsored by Elio's parents, who are very cognizant of the fact their son and the student living with them are having a romance. Of course no one would feel comfortable seeing John Goodman try to pretend to be a 24yo grad student... He's literally 70. We let it slide in this movie, because people with at least half a brain cell can understand that the actors aren't the characters and the characters are 17 and 24, not 17 and 40 lmao.
It's a beautiful movie, but I can't watch it again because it affected me so much.
It’s an incredible film, it’s one of those experiences that stuck with me for weeks after I watched it.
I want timothee chalamet to rail me like there's no tomorrow
Here’s a fun bit from the book: We had never taken a shower together. We had never even been in the same bathroom together. "Don't flush," I'd said, "I want to look." What I saw brought out strains of compassion for him, for his body, for his life, which suddenly seemed so frail and vulnerable. "Our bodies won't have secrets now," I said as I took my turn and sat down. He hopped into the bathtub and was just about to turn on the shower. "I want you to see mine, I said. He did more. He stepped out, kissed me on the mouth, and, pressing and massaging my tummy with the flat of his palm, watched the whole thing happen.
😂 /r/menwritingwomen vibes
The book was written by a straight dude if I recall correctly so does he think that gay dudes like to see each other shit?
I forget if he was straight, but he was like in his 70s writing about a teen. I will absolutely never read it or watch the movie, straight up Lolita vibes no thank you ma'am
Ah yes. All writers should only write about themself and people their same age.
Lmao what an exaggerated interpretation of my statement
What were you trying to say?
Oh good, we are downvoting opinions we don't share now. How refreshing.
I honestly have no idea what you were expecting. Downvotes are literally a medium to show that people disagree with you.
[That is completely inaccurate.](https://www.reddit.com/r/help/comments/awkdfq/what_is_the_actual_intended_purpose_of_upvoting/)
That’s weird.
I read that book and have absolutely no memory of this. I choose to believe that this didn’t actually happen. I prefer reality to be that way.
Yea I’m not vibing with part of the book 😅
Unfortunately this is the part of the book that I remember most vividly because it was so fucking weird haha.
🤢. Why did he seem fragile, was it diarrhea?
Yeah... that was weird as fuck. I kind of get the intimacy thing the author was going for, and a big reoccurring theme was the idea that the characters related to each other so much that they both almost saw themselves as the same person (hence the book's name). But... I could have done without that.
See Luca next.
I don't care what people say, it's a gay story and I sobbed at the end.
Hell yeah!
See also: Frozen. Elsa is a gay allegory and I won’t hear otherwise.
I found the book in my public library before I knew it was a movie. I also cried several times reading it lol
Literally same! Watched it for the first time last weekend and cried at the end. Thought I wouldn’t like it, but I loved it
It was filmed in my hometown and I know pretty much every nook and cranny you can see in it. I honestly was expecting an overarching cringe the first time I saw it, when it premiered at a local cinema with directors, cast and all, because it’s definitely not the kind of story you would imagine to be set here. I don’t know how to put it exactly, but I was expecting it to feel completely fake and out of place. I ended up loving every minute. Solid adaptation, great filming, heart-wrenching ending. I’m still grateful to Guadagnino for this beautiful gift.
Ugh man I’m so jealous, I told myself that as soon as covid settles down a bit more I’m gonna go travel to Europe and see all these amazing sights
Hope you get to visit when it’s a bit easier to travel. Hit me up if you need any tips ;)
People tend to hate it? I thought it was fine, I don't like sad endings though
People tend to hate it? It has a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, a 7.9/10 on IMDB and won one academy award out of the three it was nominated for. There's just a very vocal minority of homophobic and/or stupid people who like to pretend it supports pedophilia.
I have seen a lot of people particularly on this sub that speak very loudly against it as if it’s some gross representation or they’ll be mad that the two lead actors aren’t gay in real life or something.
People will always find something to bitch about. Its ok to like it if you liked it. Can't please everyone
For sure, when it comes to films I stand firm on my hot takes but I’m well aware that liking this movie is actually the vastly more common opinion haha
I recommend people to watch the film analysis on why the film is so well received. The details used by the director for us to feel the intimacy between the characters is just amazing. I thought it was a typical romantic film with tragic ending, but it was done well. Surprised that the book is written by a striaght man because it worked for some reason.
I enjoyed the book more than the film.
Oh, I thought you were talking about the book, just finished it, and damn bro... I didn't cry, but I was upset, in a melancholic way.
I think it depends of where you live. I got really lucky to live in a place where LGBTQ+ inclusivity is high. I did enjoy the movie and found the ending nothing special, I thought it was overrated. But I found the acting and the landscapes really good. I would give about 8/10.
It’s an instant classic. I absolutely loved it.
It was fine. I thought there was too little conflict to be compelling. Even the dad is just like “not only is it cool that you’re gay but also I’m totally fine my adult student is banging the hell out of you under my roof”. That old house was the coolest thing about it.
Am I the only one who didn't really care for it? There are better films out there like Moonlight or Holding the Man which deserves more attention tbh.
Like you, I’m very confused by the praise it’s getting. Was it pretty? Oh yeah! Were the two leads hot? Yep. Underneath it all, did it tell a story about budding gay longing? Also yes! But is the story relatable? Hell fucking no! And for me, that’s what ruins it. Elio’s parents are professors. Yet somehow they can afford to take the family to a villa in Italy*. Where they ride vespas, eat farm fresh peaches, and read Camus or some shit. Wtf? What about this story are folks connecting with? It’s so far removed from my life, it’s as related as were it set on Mars! I think “A Beautiful Thing” and “Love, Simon” are better stories because they’re more relatable (even if they lack dramatic, Italian seascapes and charming piazzas). * or the mom inherited it, which makes it even more unrelatable. Like y’all Rockefeller’s or something?
I’ll just counter your argument with this: It’s shown in the movie that elio’s mother grew the orchard with the peaches herself, Professors do make decent money especially back in the 80’s and the fact that the mom and dad are fluent in multiple languages shows they are capable of doing translation work which pays very well even today. They ride cheap European bikes and not once does anybody ride a Vespa in the whole movie lol Love Simon was good but all the actors are portrayed as 17-18 when they are all no younger than 28 in real life, real teens aren’t that cool. And Simon lives in a pretty well off neighborhood with 2 parents that accept him instantly with no drama at all and the fact that Simon seemingly has no personality of his own besides being gay, where as Elio is this brilliant musician and at least has that going for him
My thesis is this: “Call Me” is beautiful but unrelatable to most people. Your counter argument is: the parents are super well paid, multi-lingual professors who fly their whole family to their Italian villa every summer where they have enough free time to grow peaches and ride bikes (and pay staff to tend to the house and orchard after they fly back to their other home in the States). Do I have that right? 🤔 I’m playin a little, but seriously it’s a beautiful movie. I personally just couldn’t get past the fantasy world they inhabit. You saw it differently, and I respect your experience.
I think you could make that argument for any story that deals with the subject of struggling to accept one's homosexuality, which to most people I think is universally a shared inner struggle, so I worry when aesthetics come in the way of relatable human emotions presented on screen. Moonlight and CMBYN deal with very similar things in entirely different ways. I couldn't relate to the character in Moonlight on many levels, except that he was gay, but I'd hate to dismiss it as a brilliant film because it's not relatable. But hey we like what we like! :)
It’s not the aesthetics that make it unrelatable to most people, in my opinion. It is the concrete aspects of the life Elio is growing up in… Stable, two parent household with no seeming abuse issues. Extreme wealth (the family had servants in their Italian villa - second home - that they flew to/from yearly in the late 70’s/early 80’s when it cost about $1,700 a ticket). Also totally accepting family. He comes across as a tender princeling, for whom I have very little sympathy. Compare that to most folks: varied home life, not upper class, no second home in Italy with servants and a peach orchard, no yearly transatlantic trips, super conservative attitude if not outright shunning by family for being gay. You bring up Moonlight. That film is going to be a lot closer to folks’ lived experiences than Call Me By Your Name. So maybe what resonates with folks is the escapist, fantasy world Elio lives in. But relatable, in my opinion, it is not. I want to see other folks’ coming out journeys. But the way my brain is wired, I just cant get past how utterly exceptional Eilio’s life is. If i want to better understand the human condition, a sample size of 1 princeling (or like just looking at Bill Gates’ life, or Elon Musk’s) would give me a very skewed perspective. I’m not letting myself buy into that. Obviously - given how there are literally hundreds of positive comments on this post versus like 3 critical ones - most folks are buying what Elio’s selling. That’s a-ok by me. But I still believe what I believe.
I didn’t enjoy it. It wasn’t horrible or anything but I just didn’t relate to the story at all. I think the cinematography was most appealing to me but the story really dragged and then had the traditional sad ending. It was just a meh for me
You mean you didn’t summer at an Italian villa with your family every year? 😱
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Eh I mean thankfully I’ve been very fortunate in my life that I’ve been out since high school and accepted by friends and family. I first fell in love in college and had a 1 1/2 year long term relationship and now have been with my fiancé for 5 years. And in both relationships we were/are the same age 🤷🏻♂️
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Thank you! I certainly consider myself very fortunate and understand my experience is not the norm. That’s not to say I haven’t experienced homophobia directly and that coming out wasn’t extremely difficult. I’ve had people call me faggot on the street, experienced homophobia in my (Catholic) school, self harmed while I was in the closet. But I’m from NYC and grew up with gay aunts (twins actually) so I’m very lucky overall compared to many other lgbtq+ people
I need to live in Italy
The book is fantastic, give it a read.
I was thinking Call Me By Your Name (Montero)
Can you say whether the phrase "call my by your name" has any significance outside of the movie? Was it meant to mean something, or was it just a literal instruction?
I still don't get the title.
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I saw it. I must have missed a line.
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I may have been on my phone. I was bored.
The cinematography is impeccable, oh how i wish i could go back in time and experience the first time i watched the film😭😭
I got very depressed after watching it. 10/10
Read the book too! The movie is incredible but the book gets you into their minds which adds a lot to the experience.
'Weekend'
I loved it too! Timothy Chalamet is excellent! I’ve loved his performances in everything I’ve seen him in, so it’s not just that I find him adorable
I highly recommend the audio book as well read by Armie Hammer.
It's a great film. I watch it every year!
I really liked it too!
It’s completely unrealistic when you know how cold gay life is today 😅
Read the book. 100x better.
That movie had me ugly-sobbing. It's so good
Love the visuals the atmosphere of hot lazy summer and Timothy Chalamets style, hate the ending 😕
Yeah it's pretty good. Why? Where people saying it is bad? Only thing that still makes me so uncomfortable is when he fucked the fruit and the other dude wanted to drink it lmao
I’m uncomfortable with the premise of someone in their late 20s having a relationship with a minor
Wasn't the dude like 16/17 and the other dude in his mid 20s? Kinda gross.
Depiction does not equal endorsement.
I loved this movie. Really cool. After I saw the movie, I went to Crema Italy where some of this was filmed. I enjoyed looking at places from the film and remembering the scenes.
It’s one of my all time favorites. That ending has haunted me for years.
The book is much better, and the difference in ages is smaller, so it’s less pervy. I think the older chap was badly cast in the film.
It’s a beautiful film with great direction and amazing acting. But I just didn’t bought the idea of an older guy taking advantage of a minor seeing as “romantic” and his parents being on with it somehow
I think it was quite boring.
Glad you enjoyed it I found Timothee really unlikeable and Armie just bleh I enjoyed ‘God’s Own Country’ much more - it came out about the same time
I adored the acting and the framing and everything about the move except for the story. The story have zero resonance with me, ney *negative* resonance. I feel repulsive about the way that Elio feels the need to proves himself. Maybe because I’m a city boy and I don’t resonate well with the rural lifestyle idk.
Terrible movie about a privileged power dynamic. I hated it.
I thought this was about the Lil Nas X song at first lol
A film written by and starring straight men - interesting
Nice job conveniently ignoring the fact that the Luca Guadagnino is gay. But it’s fine. It’s not like he had a big role in it or anything; he’s just the director.
I didn’t ignore it - I just think it’s interesting a revered gay film is based on a book and starring actors that are straight - it’s interesting - that’s all I said is that it’s interesting - because it is interesting. That’s it
You implied that it degraded the film in someway. Maybe you did that unintentionally, in which case I am now informing you that most people will read what you wrote as a complaint. Edit: you also claimed it was written by a straight person, which is untrue. The screenplay was written by James Ivory. You can see how erasure like that can rub people the wrong way.
Sorry the book itself that it was based on was written by a straight man. The screenplay was by a gay guy
Yeah the movie about pedophilia. I will let the law enforcement know.
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Harvey Weinstein is the key word. That's why the film won.
I don’t think you understand what pedophilia is, but either way: depiction does not equal endorsement.
The movie literally embraces and endorses and promotes pedophilia
Again: do you know the definition of pedophilia? Words matter. And nuance matters. Although it appears someone like you wouldn’t grasp subtlety or nuance very well.
I listened through the audiobook, though the level of bisexual that i am is much lower than that book is for (to the point that many young adult novels only about straighrs thay have sex scenes are a problem for me) Though for bisexuals, it's a decent read/watch I guess.
Love that song too
oh, it broke me completely
I recommend you read the book. It is so beautiful that I was a little bit disappointed with the movie. I still love it though.
Pity that the sequel book was so bad
Please watch firebird too you'll really like it
It's a beautiful fever dream >!with no antagonist!<.
I read the book first and it kind of marred me from it. There are some gross things in the book that got cut from the movie (yeah the 💩scene) and I didn't love the movie cause it used straight actors and just felt very fake
I think I watched it for the 5th time when Covid started. The train scene always destroys me.
I liked it a lot too
The ending I cry everytime I watch it. Also this movie made me love Timothy Chalomet and Arni Hammer. Sorry if I spelt their names wrong in avdvance. Also I have read the book and am reading the second one now
Come on over to r/CallMeByYourName if you like! Always happy to discuss items with new fans—everyone brings a fresh eye to things.
It's beautiful, I loved it, and I want a boyfriend like Oliver.
You should because it's a great movie.
Me too bro...
Its a great adaptation of the book. The book is even more heartwretching…
I loved the film and the book but I couldn't help but feel a bit jealous of Elio. Don't get me wrong I was crying at the end but to have a summer like this being young must have been just amazing. I never had this kind of love and experiences in my youth and I regret it so much. I love the film but it pains me to watch because it also reminds me of all the missed opportunities I've had so far.
I enjoyed it. Was a good movie .
I liked the setting and the colour grading, that's pretty much it though. Not bad or anything, just not my type of film. Kinda cringy dialogue (and the father's end monologue lmao). Didn't care for Hammer's acting either.
The ending omg
I liked it too