Plot" Call Me By Your Name

It is the summer of 1983. Elio, a 17-year-old Jewish-American, lives with his parents in rural northern Italy. Elio's father, a professor of archaeology, invites a 24-year-old graduate student, Oliver, who is also Jewish American, to live with the family over the summer and help with his academic paperwork. Elio, an introspective bibliophile and a talented musician, initially thinks he has little in common with Oliver, who has a carefree and exuberant personality. Elio resents having to give up his bedroom to Oliver for the duration of his stay, and spends much of the summer reading, playing piano, and hanging out with his girlfriend, Marzia. Meanwhile, Oliver admits being attracted to one of the local girls, much to Elio's annoyance. Elio and Oliver swim together, go for long walks into town, and accompany Elio's father on an archaeological trip. Elio begins a sexual relationship with Marzia and brags about it in front of Oliver to gauge his reaction, but nonetheless finds himself increasingly attracted to him. He sneaks into his room to smell his bathing suit and thinks about him while masturbating. During a trip to the local post office, Elio indirectly confesses his feelings to Oliver, who tells him he should not act on them. Later that day, the two kiss, but Oliver is reluctant to go any further when Elio grabs his testicles above Oliver's shorts. They grow distant. In response to a note from Elio, Oliver leaves a message on his desk suggesting they meet at midnight. Elio spends the day with Marzia in the attic having sex, but longs to see Oliver. At midnight, he approaches Oliver and they have passionate sex. The next morning Oliver performs oral sex to Elio for having been the bottom in yesterday's intercourse. They become more physically and emotionally intimate in the days that follow, frequently having sex while still keeping their relationship secret. In bed, Oliver commands Elio, "Call me by your name and I'll call you by mine." Now completely smitten with Oliver, Elio starts avoiding Marzia. As the end of Oliver's stay approaches, he and Elio both find themselves overcome by uncertainty and longing. One evening, lying on the mattress in the attic, Elio ejaculates inside a peach while masturbating. An aroused shirtless Oliver enters the attic, performs oral sex on a sleepy Elio, and after tasting the peach juice on Elio's penis, he eats the peach in front of Elio who has an emotional breakdown thinking about Oliver's departure. The two hug and have sex. Elio's parents—who are privately aware of the bond between the two, but do not address it openly—recommend he and Oliver visit Bergamo together before Oliver returns home to the US. They spend three romantic days together full of long walks and sex. Elio, heartbroken after Oliver's departure, calls his mother and asks her to pick him up from the train station and take him home. Marzia is sympathetic to Elio's feelings and says she wants to remain friends. Elio's father, observing his deep sadness,

tells him he was aware of his relationship with Oliver, and confesses to almost having had a similar relationship in his own youth. He urges Elio to learn from his grief and grow, instead of just moving on too quickly. During Hanukkah, Oliver calls Elio's family to tell them he is engaged to be married. He tells Elio he remembers everything very clearly. After the call, Elio stares into a fireplace, crying and reminiscing, as his parents and the house staff prepare a holiday dinner.