There’s a saying that a successful film can make a poster out of any still and I believe Call Me by Your Name could accomplish that task.

Aftermath of the Peach

This scene stood out because the film ‘went there’ but it’s also where Elio goes through an array of emotions: being aroused to feeling embarrassed to feeling ashamed and there’s that word again, left vulnerable in front of Oliver. What I love about this scene is that Oliver immediately understands and stops joking around, embraces him, and then holds him.

It was such a beautiful and tender scene and one that resonates with me strongly, for having lived moments where I was that vulnerable and my lover at the time held me but also because it made me remember the times where I didn’t have anyone or the person I wanted to make me feel safe didn’t and I was forced to deal with feeling raw by myself.

This is something the film constantly has me doing: remembering moments where my expectations were met and weren’t. Having me sway back and forth between content and melancholy, and where that might sound like torment, I appreciate the effect the film has on me.

Elio’s Spot

Another phenomenal scene where Chalamet’s ability to be a vulnerable and portray a sentiment we all can understand and even appreciate is when the two are in Elio’s secret spot, standing in the cool waters of the spring and this dialogue occurs:

I am notorious for downplaying compliments, it’s an awful habit, and the way this scene was shot and acted just had me nodding my head. I haven’t resonated so closely with a character in so long that having it played in front of me I found myself completely stunned and in awe.

The Cheesy Moment

Of course I’d mention this scene where Oliver, with his hand on Elio’s face, whispers: “Call me by your name and I’ll call you by mine.”

I distinctly remember my face scowling and rolling my eyes whenever I saw this clip play in the trailer. A tiny but commanding voice in my head going, “Ugh, cheesy”, but the build up to this scene and having it finally unravel I found myself blushing. I could feel myself turn pink with excitement and my jaded self eroding away to allow for beautiful and romantic moments to happen without scorn.

Like, getting real with y’all here, but I can’t find the words to perfectly explain the importance and beauty of this scene but know that it’s so much more intense than what the trailers show.

The way Eroticism is portrayed

One criticism the film receives is that there isn’t a full-on sex scene and not going to lie, where it’d be nice, I’m relieved. I’m glad there isn’t an on-camera scene where one of them has their legs up in the air and the other is thrusting and grunting. Why? Because they handled it so much better, far better than a sex scene would’ve been.

A good chunk of the novel, and the film, revolves around nuances and subtlety in both the way Elio and Oliver speak to one another but also the way in which they touch one another.