Film Opening Analysis - Call Me by Your Name (2017)

Genre: Romantic, slice-of-life, coming of age drama

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Producers: Peter Spears, Luca Guadagnino, Emilie Georges, Rodrigo Teixeira, Marco Morabito, James Ivory, Howard Rosenman

Distributed by: Sony Pictures Classics (Worldwide), Warner Bros. Pictures (Italy), Memento Films International (International)

Budget: $3.5 million

Box office: $43.1 million

Clip duration: 3:48

Typography:

The opening scene starts with a hand-written introduction that says "Summer 1983", followed by the same font typed "Somewhere in Northern Italy". These are also the only titles that are displayed during the first 3 minutes. The hand-written font applies a peaceful, free, and summer-ish to the film. The genre of the film is romantic coming-of-age and slice-of-life so the font used complements the genre really well. In addition to the title, the film occasionally incorporates on-screen text to provide contextual information or to enhance the narrative. These text elements are typically presented in a simple, sans-serif font that is easy to read and unobtrusive. This choice ensures that the text does not distract from the visual storytelling but rather complements it. It's worth noting that the typography in "Call Me by Your Name" is not overly stylized or attention-grabbing. Instead, it is carefully selected to maintain a sense of subtlety and harmony with the film's overall aesthetic. The typography serves as a visual tool to support the storytelling and evoke the emotions and atmosphere of the narrative.

What images are prioritised in the opening sequence? What connotations do the images carry?

1. The picturesque Italian countryside: The film begins with wide shots of the beautiful Italian landscape, emphasizing the natural beauty and tranquility of the setting. This imagery sets a serene and idyllic tone for the story.

2. Elio Perlman by the window: The camera focuses on Elio, the main character, as he looks down from the window in his room. This image highlights his curiosity for the new assistant and introduces him as a central figure in the narrative.

3. Books and music: Elio is shown reading a book and listening to music, emphasizing his intellectual and artistic interests. These images suggest a world of knowledge and creativity that will play a significant role in the film.

4. Elio's family: The opening sequence introduces Elio's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Perlman, who are seen engaging in conversation and enjoying their surroundings. This image emphasizes the importance of family and their influence on Elio's life.

5. Nature and the changing seasons: The opening sequence includes shots of trees, flowers, and other natural elements, highlighting the passage of time and the fleeting nature of summer. These images foreshadow the themes of transience and the bittersweet nature of love that will be explored in the film.

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes?

• Symbolic Codes:
  
  
  1. Setting: The film is set in a picturesque Italian countryside, which symbolizes a sense of beauty, freedom, and sensuality. The lush landscapes, ancient architecture, and warm colors evoke a romantic and nostalgic atmosphere, reinforcing the film's coming-of-age and romantic elements.
  
  
  2. Nature: The use of nature as a recurring motif throughout the film symbolizes the characters' emotions and desires. The changing seasons, blooming flowers, and ripening fruits mirror the blossoming romance between Elio and Oliver, as well as the fleeting nature of their relationship.
  
  
  3. Art and literature: The film incorporates various forms of art and literature, such as classical music, sculptures, and books. These symbols represent the characters' intellectual and cultural backgrounds, emphasizing their sophistication and the depth of their emotions.
  
  
• Technical Codes:
  
  
  1. Cinematography: The film utilizes long takes, wide shots, and fluid camera movements to create a sense of intimacy and immersion. The camera often lingers on the characters' faces, capturing their subtle expressions and emotions, enhancing the emotional depth of the story.
  
  
  2. Lighting and color: The film employs natural lighting and warm color palettes to create a soft and dreamlike atmosphere. The use of golden hues and soft shadows
  enhances the romantic and nostalgic tone, reinforcing the genre of the film.
  
  
  3. Sound design: The film's sound design plays a crucial role in reinforcing its genre. The use of diegetic sounds, such as the sounds of nature, music, and conversations, immerses the audience in the characters' world. The carefully selected soundtrack, featuring classical music and original compositions, enhances the emotional impact of key scenes.

By employing these symbolic and technical codes, "Call Me by Your Name" reinforces its genre as a coming-of-age romantic drama. These codes contribute to the film's overall tone, themes, and aesthetic, creating a rich and immersive cinematic experience.

How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?

Throughout the first 3 minutes opening, the film triggers the audience's curiosity by provoking questions such as who is the new guy? What is he doing at this house? What relationship do they have? What do their eye contact and body language illustrate? By raising these questions, the film can engage with the audience and make them watch until the end to find out the answers to the questions that they've raised.

Summary:

There are some key takeaways that I've taken out of this film opening that could be used for my own opening sequence. Among many technical codes and conventions, the natural lighting and colour-grading of this film stood out to me the most. I feel like the use of natural sunlight highlights the slice-of-life aspect of the film really well and I will most likely adapt that code into my product. The colour-grading is also one thing that I noticed, as the film used very minimised colour corrections and only colour-grade a bit to highlight the scenery and the vintage look of the film. I will also be applying it to my film opening.