Cert 15 132mins Stars 4
A summer of love has long lasting repercussions for a teenager in this coming out, coming of age romance.
Elegant, sincere, sensual and sensitive, it has two exceptional performances from Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer. The latter is all the more impressive as the actor is mostly famous for playing the Lone Ranger to Johnny Depp’s Tonto.
Chalamet plays Elio, an American-Italian Jewish 17-year-old. While spending his holidays in his parent’s Italian villa, he’s attracted to the presence of Hammer’s visiting 24-year-old American Jewish scholar.
Small gestures have huge significance, and as the pair edge towards each other they talk in coded language so as not to betray themselves.
Though much time is spent by the pool or playing volley ball, a key seduction scene involves the witty use of a piano.
Occasionally the pace is overly languid, however this does allow us to drown in the local texture and gorgeous locations.