Call Me by Your Name, directed by Luca Guadagnino and based on the novel by André Aciman, is a slow-burning, emotionally rich story of first love and self-discovery. Set in the summer of 1983 in northern Italy, the film follows 17-year-old Elio Perlman as he experiences the intensity, confusion, and heartbreak of a transformative romance. It’s a coming-of-age story grounded in atmosphere, sensual detail, and the unspoken tensions between people.

The film opens with the arrival of Oliver, a confident and charismatic American scholar, to the Perlman family’s villa. Every summer, Elio’s father, an archaeology professor, invites a graduate student to stay and assist with academic work. Oliver is this year’s guest—a 24-year-old who immediately captures Elio’s attention, though Elio’s reaction is not simple admiration. He’s intrigued, irritated, and soon obsessed. There’s tension from the start, but it’s masked under casual conversation and passive-aggressive remarks.

Elio is brilliant and sensitive, fluent in several languages, and deeply involved in music and literature. He’s also restless. He spends his days reading, composing, transcribing classical pieces, and hanging out with friends. At first, he keeps Oliver at a distance, watching him from afar and mocking his casual “later” catchphrase. But something deeper is at work. Elio is curious about Oliver in a way that unsettles him. His discomfort reflects the larger theme of the film: how we grapple with desires we don’t yet understand.

As the days go by, the distance between the two begins to shrink. There are moments—a shared look, a brush of hands, a lingering glance—that suggest the attraction is mutual. But both Elio and Oliver are cautious. Oliver, older and more experienced, seems aware of the risks: the age difference, the era’s social taboos, and the consequences of acting on feelings in a time and place where same-sex relationships are rarely spoken about openly.

Elio distracts himself by getting involved with Marzia, a local girl. Their physical relationship is tender but ultimately empty for him. It becomes clear that he’s still thinking about Oliver. Their connection builds slowly until one night, Elio makes a bold confession. In a halting and coded conversation, he tells Oliver, “I know nothing, Oliver.” It’s a moment filled with vulnerability and hope. Oliver responds carefully, not rejecting Elio, but not fully reciprocating either. At least, not yet.

The tension breaks in the days that follow. Oliver kisses Elio, and later, they sleep together for the first time. The release of that tension changes everything. What was once longing becomes something real. Their secret affair deepens. They spend days walking, swimming, biking through the countryside, sharing books, music, jokes, and more intimate moments. There’s joy in their connection, but also a sense of time running out. Oliver is only in Italy for the summer, and August is approaching fast.

The emotional core of the film lies in the contrast between the fleeting nature of their relationship and the depth of feeling it sparks in both of them. They are fully aware that their time together is limited, which makes every interaction more meaningful. Elio, in particular, is overwhelmed. He’s experiencing the rush of first love, mixed with the pain of knowing it can’t last.

Eventually, Oliver tells Elio that he will be leaving soon. To soften the goodbye, Elio’s parents suggest that the two of them take a short trip together before Oliver departs. On this trip, their bond is at its most open and tender. They laugh, sleep in the same bed, and share moments that Elio will carry with him long after Oliver is gone. There’s no pretense anymore—just intimacy, affection, and looming heartbreak.

When Oliver finally leaves, Elio is devastated. He returns home to find himself altered, unsure how to move forward. It’s here that the film delivers one of its most memorable scenes: a quiet, compassionate conversation between Elio and his father. Mr. Perlman tells Elio that he noticed the relationship and encourages him not to bury the experience. Instead of offering comfort through distraction, he validates Elio’s pain. “We rip out so much of ourselves to be cured of things faster,” he says. “But we’re only 17 once.” It’s a rare moment of parental wisdom that acknowledges the beauty of love, even when it hurts.

The film ends months later, with a single phone call. Elio picks up the phone in winter to hear Oliver’s voice. Oliver tells him that he’s getting married. The news hits Elio hard, but he hides his reaction. The conversation is brief, polite, but filled with unspoken emotion. When Elio hangs up, he sits by the fire and silently cries. The camera holds on his face for several minutes as the credits begin to roll. It’s a powerful closing shot that captures everything the film is about—desire, loss, memory, and the enduring impact of love.

Call Me by Your Name doesn’t rely on melodrama or heavy-handed declarations. Instead, it focuses on subtle glances, long silences, and the tension between what’s said and what’s left unsaid. The plot is simple, but the emotions are complex. It’s not just about two people falling in love—it’s about how that love changes them.

The setting plays a major role in the story as well. The sun-drenched landscapes, the peach orchards, the ancient ruins—all serve as a backdrop to Elio’s emotional journey. Time feels suspended in this Italian summer, heightening the sense of nostalgia and impermanence. Every frame is soaked in beauty and melancholy.

Ultimately, Call Me by Your Name is a film about memory. It shows how a brief, intense experience can shape a person forever. Elio’s love for Oliver doesn’t disappear, even when the relationship ends. It becomes a part of him—something he carries, aches for, and eventually learns from. The movie doesn’t offer closure in the traditional sense. Instead, it respects the ambiguity of real life, where love is rarely clean or lasting but always meaningful.