Call Me By Your Name: How is the book different from the movie?

Call Me By Your Name is an incredible book but don’t expect the movie to be exactly the same. Actually, it is quite different.

Everyone is trying to see Call Me By Your Name. With a breakout performance by Timothée Chalamet and the return of Armie Hammer to the forefront of everyone’s minds, what’s not to love about this story?

The novel, by Andre Aciman, isn’t exactly the same as the movie though. The first big chunk of the book is just Elio (Chalamet) and Oliver (Hammer) dancing around the fact that they have feelings for one another. Personally, I think the film lacks here a bit. The book has great internal monologues that were cut (for obvious reasons), but they help express the ideas that are continually swirling throughout Elio’s mind.

They explain his relationship with Marzia and point out the moments when he fell in love with Oliver. There is also an amazing bit about the peach and him comparing it to Oliver’s butt that is lost in the film and ends up being sweet but not nearly as powerful as it is in the novel.

I should say that I love the movie, I think that last shot is so powerful and shows the effects relationships can have on us at young ages and the everlasting damage they can cause. That being said, I feel like the movie does things better than certain aspects of the novel and vice versa.

Often the book goes to random scenes that do not make much sense or seem necessary. But then again, the movie lacked in the build up but then was perfect once Oliver and Elio were together. So in some cases, you win some and then you lose some.

Next: Man Crush Monday: The stars of Call Me By Your Name

Call Me By Your Name is in select theaters across the United States and I highly suggest seeing it while you can.