This movie is a long-time coming. When I read the book many years ago, I thought to myself that it could be made into a movie, partly because the story-telling was beautiful. The way Andre Aciman described every detail is how I wish I could write. I don’t have that much talent, except writing reviews, I guess.

When I heard that this movie was coming out, no pun ever intended there, I was partly excited but also nervous at the same time. How are they going to put into life what Andre Aciman has so beautifully written on paper?

Call Me By Your Name, the movie, does not disappoint.

The story was set in 1987 in Northern Italy when an American graduate student named Oliver (played by the very handsome Armie Hammer) visited his professor’s home. There, he met the son of his professor, Elio (played by newbie Timothee Chalamet). In the beginning, there was some negative energy in the house between the two, but it eventually became much more – love.

Since this is a movie adaptation and I read the book way before I watched the movie, it is hard for me not to compare between the two. I remembered receiving the book and reading it in one sitting, with Kleenex on the side and me sobbing like someone had died. Someone didn’t die. My heart did. It was broken into little pieces. My slightly younger self thought why is it so hard for two people regardless of gender, race, sexuality to just be together because they love each other and how cruel the world is that we are defined by labels – labels that are given by our fellow human beings. I was that sad, people.

Some people found the book “sexy” because of the sexual scenes that were described on the book but I, a fangirl who is so used to reading fanfictions that are marked as PWP (porn without plot), thought they were just beautifully written scenes. The book as a whole is heartbreaking. I don’t find it sexy at all. Okay, so maybe the sex scenes written is. I mean, to write sexual scenes on paper is not easy. It could go really badly if it’s not written well. It could go two ways: 1) The readers will find it sexy or 2) disgusting. I find it Queer As Folk-worthy if Queer As Folk was ever made into a book.

Now, back to the movie, how is it? I prefer the book. I’m a bookworm, people. I would prefer books over movie adaptations of them anytime. The chemistry between the two actors were really good. It’s not easy to not know the other person and bam! you have to go naked and make out with each other. It’s not just the actors but also the surroundings and how they really made it seem like it’s 1987 when I’m pretty sure it was shot in 2016 or something. They made whatever that was on the book come to life and it was so good to see what I read on screen.

I am unsure, however, why the director chose to show the love-making scenes between Elio and Marzia (the former girlfriend) and cut out the ones between the two male main characters, which made it look discriminatory but the director is an out gay man so I did a little research and found that he wanted to make the love between the two main characters look more genuine. I accept that though I don’t think of it any lesser whilst reading the book. But that’s me.

Another difference between reading the book and watching the movie is… I didn’t cry this time. I thought I would but even though my heart still hurts, it hurts less than it was when I read the book. And honestly, the book does not have a sad ending like in the movie. It is sad but it is more of a bittersweet taste of reality that hurts.

So, anyway, besides the story-telling, acting, cinematography, etc, what made the movie good was the soundtrack. Hello, indie music. I love it. It reminds me when I was watching Queer As Folk and they have a kick-ass soundtrack every single time. And it made me like the movie more. I am going to find that Visions of Gideon song! It is so good!

I’ll give this movie a 4 out of 5.

Trailer…