Call Me by Your Name Book vs Movie

Luca Guadagnino directs Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer in the adaptation about a teen who has a life changing summer romance. Find out why this a fantastic adaptation, and why I would recommend the book even if you don't like romance!
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00:00 spoiler free review
03:07 Elio and Oliver’s relationship
06:02 Elio
09:01 the age difference
10:55 wanting to be each other
12:08 their relationship through the years
14:07 Elio’s dad
15:43 the peach
17:52 some other changes
19:27 book vs movie

[@kawaiiwitchbaby]

I saw the movie first and loved it. The book gave so much more insight into what Elio was thinking. It really captures that obsessive unrequited love we’ve all at some point or another experienced… and then to have it reciprocated just all the emotions and the fear that this will end someday.

[@WhytheBookWins]

Yes so true!

[@LucyLioness100]

Well said

[@sisterelinor]

Actually I can't separate book from movie anymore, they are so organically linked. Even Andre Aciman says he does not remember how he imagined his own characters before the movie, as Luca and the actors did such a great job. And the book is a memory, told by Elio 20 years after that summer. Truth is both book and movie broke my heart. ❤

[@LucyLioness100]

Even without the framing as a memoir and playing out in real time, it’s so accurate to the book

[@kellyj.azania4371]

All of James Ivory's screenplays are beautifully written and very relatable.

[@WhytheBookWins]

I need to look up some of his other ones!

[@dvdv8197]

16:10 "He's acting like he's gonna eat it." He definitely did taste a little tho, after he put his fingers in. Wasn't that clear on screen? I remember it being explicit. 😅

[@makaylaberrey4040]

A possible reason for people being more weirded out is that the age difference between the actors is greater than the characters making the older love interest seem more creepy/uncomfortable to movie audiences.

[@WhytheBookWins]

Yeah, like I said Chalamat comes across so young whereas Hammer is clearly a GROWN man lol. Having said that I do like the casting and I thought they had great chemistry!

[@lucasorlando99]

Please review Bones and All by Camille DeAngelis which was made into a movie of the same name by Luca Guadagnino

[@WhytheBookWins]

I've been worried I'll be too grossed out given the subject matter! But I'll give it a shot and see if I can handle it lol.

[@alexking5742]

Omg yes! I loved Bones and All! I read it with the imagery of Timothee’ as Lee for what the character looked like. I definitely prefer the book over the movie though, even though Timothee’ did a good job, I just didn’t like the changes the movie made.

[@alexking5742]

The beginning of the book is the worst. Once Maren meets Lee it’s just the best coming of age story. So heartfelt too for Lee’s story.

[@alexking5742]

Great review! Thanks for doing this one. I watched the movie first and do prefer the movie. I felt like the book dragged at times and yes I totally forgot about the Thailand story being kind of random. The best parts in both book & movie is the interaction with the dad towards the end when Oliver leaves..it was so touching I shed a tear & I think it summed up a lot of the feelings that were conflicting Elio. I prefer the movie ending too. The last scene was so touching and emotional. I’m curious about the sequel to the book, Find Me. I haven’t read it because it seems to have mixed reviews.

[@WhytheBookWins]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Totally agree about that part with his dad being one of the best moments. I am curious to read the sequel, but it isn't super on my TBR right now.

[@dvdv8197]

Oh for sure the book! So gripping. But the movie is great too! 😆😄 Look forward to your analysis. 😊

[@Raetheforce]

I love the way you talk about books!

[@WhytheBookWins]

thank you so much!

[@LucyLioness100]

Both are so good & I cried so much at the ending of both movie and book. The book does delve a bit more into Elio’s character, but film is a visual medium so they can use visual language instead of voiceover. I even read the sequel book; no spoilers 😉

[@WhytheBookWins]

Would you recommend the sequel??

[@LucyLioness100]

@@WhytheBookWins I honestly would if you really liked the first one. I was kinda surprised how it ended up, but it did give me the feels

[@davidfitzpatrick6535]

So at least for my generation (born in 1995) our dating "rule" regarding age was divide by two and then add 7 so if u have a 24 year old (like Oliver) the youngest he should be dating is 19. Although something I've personally noticed is LGBTQIA+ relationships also tend to have an age gap. Maybe this is because so many 50+ were forced to hide their sexuality till now but still I do think its a tad odd.

[@dvdv8197]

4:40 "Self-loathing, what was it about?" As someone who lived a similar experience, to me it most definitely is about the same gender sexual activity. Especially when you are brought up with quite (explicit or implicit) conservative ideas, or simply don't even know that homosexuality is a thing (trust me, that can still happen). In the 80's in Italy, I don't really doubt this would've been quite a similar situation/feeling for Elio. I also don't think it'd be about the age difference. Again speaking from experience: on the contrary: imo, the age difference kinda reassures the younger person, whether that reassurance is warranted or not. Like "he's older, he's been through this already, most likely (whether that's actually the case or not), he has experience, I can trust him not to hurt me (both literally and figuratively)". In Italy, and other countries where age of consent is quite low (i.e. not higher than 16), a 17 with a 24 y o is no different than say a 21 y o with a 30 y o. I have several friends who had "very young gf's" compared to their own age (indeed quite similar, like 17 to 24), and, coincidence or not, those are still very solid relationships, they're both happily married and building a life together, 10 years or so onward. 😊

[@WhytheBookWins]

Yeah I think that it most likely the reason too. That's interesting though that you think the age dynamic if anything would be a benefit in this situation, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks for commenting!

[@dvdv8197]

Fun fact: Guadagnino left in the peach scene because "he tested it out and it worked". 😄

[@WhytheBookWins]

oh wow 😆

[@tophtopherson8920]

I'm not going to watch this yet, I still need to see the movie. All I can say, is that what I know about this is that I probably would really do it as a young gay person. also, I love Sufjan Stevens so much. I'll come back to this later. bless

[@WhytheBookWins]

I think you'll love the movie! And yeah, his song for this movie was amazing!

[@jacquelineedwards4140]

I have seen the film but not read the book yet. I fail to see what Elio sees in Oliver who I find really horrible.

[@WhytheBookWins]

Maybe Oliver's maturity and charisma comes through more in the book. Also having Armie Hammer in the role might ruin it for some people at this point given what has since come out about him.