Call Me by Your Name
The brief
Guadagnino turns northern Italy into a hazy fever dream where peaches become erotic and every surface seems to shimmer with longing. Chalamet is magnetic as a precocious teen whose sexual awakening unfolds in stolen glances and fumbled conversations, while the film luxuriates in sun-soaked afternoons that stretch like molasses. This moves at the pace of a lazy summer where nothing and everything happens, building tension through meaningful silences and the weight of unspoken desire. Perfect for anyone who loved the languid sensuality of Portrait of a Lady on Fire or wants their romance films to feel like warm honey.
The verdict
If you crave romance that unfolds through lingering glances and sun-drenched atmosphere rather than conventional plot beats, this is a hypnotic meditation on desire that will leave you breathless. If you need faster pacing or feel uncomfortable with explicit gay romance between a 17-year-old and a 24-year-old, the deliberately slow burn and controversial age gap will likely frustrate you.
Watch with
- 👫 Perfect for couples seeking romantic depth
- 👤 Best appreciated solo for emotional immersion
- ⚠️ Not suitable for family viewing
- ⚠️ May be uncomfortable for conservative viewers
Heads up
- Male nudity and sexual content (moderate)
- Age gap romantic relationship (moderate)
- Brief masturbation scene (brief)
Credits
- Director
- Luca Guadagnino
- Cast
- Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Esther Garrel
Official synopsis
In 1980s Italy, romance blossoms between a seventeen-year-old student and the older man hired as his father's
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with You, Me & Tuscany (2026)
Both explore intimate romance in beautiful Italian settings with tender storytelling.
Total runtime: 2h 12m + 1h 45m = 3h 57m
