When someone cries while watching a movie, do they get embarrassed by it or do they not mind it? I personally don’t mind it because that’s how I know I’ve connected with the movie I’m watching. I didn’t cry during ‘Call Me By Your Name,’ however it tugged at my heart strings so hard it felt as if the movie refused to let go of me.

‘Call Me By Your Name’ is based off of the 2007 novel of the same name that is written by André Aciman. It follows Elio (Timothée Chalamet) a 17 year old living in northern Italy in with his parents in a magnificent villa. One summer, a handsome American grad student named Oliver (Armie Hammer) spends the summer with them. Elio doesn’t approve of Oliver at first. He’s not fond of the fact that Oliver says “later” when he makes an exit instead of goodbye. Elio and Oliver eventually truce and form a unique bond as the summer progresses. Thinking about it now, Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer give some of the best performances of the year here. Their chemistry is spot on and most definitely worth an Oscar nod for their respected categories (Chalamet got a Best Actor nod but Hammer was snubbed). You can tell at first they’re not fond of each other, but when they do become fond of each other it’s impossible to not adore.

Another aspect I loved about this movie was the music. Throughout the film, there would be an unexpected piano tune playing and it perfectly captures the moment. A singer named Sufjan Stevens did the music for this film, and he certainly did a phenomenal job! His songs ‘Mystery of Love’ and ‘Visions of Gideon’ are extremely unique in their own ways and are played in perfect parts throughout the movie.

In fact, ‘Visions of Gideon’ is played at what might be the most emotional moment in the movie (POSSIBLE SPOILER AHEAD). At the end, Oliver has gone back to the US. Sometime around Hanukkah, he calls Elio and his family to tell them that he is engaged to someone back in the US. Elio is disheartened by the news, so he stares at the fireplace heartbroken and reflecting on what he just heard. The camera only shows his face looking at the fire, the credits start to roll, and ‘Visions of Gideon’ begins to play. I don’t know how long that moment was, but this is the part that really hit me in the feels. I was impressed by the fact that Chalamet had to shed a tear for god knows how long with a camera in his face. He didn’t break character or lose his focus, Chalamet just stared at the flame and managed to burst out a tear.

Music, Chalamet, and Hammer aside, ‘Call Me By Your Name’ found strong suits in its script, production design, and cinematography. There were beautiful shots of the Italian countryside, along with some breathtaking nature shots. As for the screenplay, well, let’s just say that this movie is strong in that category. Written perfectly by James Ivory, the script made the movie know how to do a love story right. So in conclusion, ‘Call Me By Your Name’ is worth seeing and is a big contender this award season. If you cry in movies, bring some tissues because you’ll probably need them.