At 22, Timothée Chalamet becomes the youngest Oscar Best Actor nominee in 74 years, and he gets this distinction for his performance in Sony Pictures Classic's heartwrenching love story, Call Me By Your Name.
Directed by Luca Guadagnino, the film is the heady awakening of a 17-year old young man’s first passion. When Elio (Chalamet) falls for Oliver (Armie Hammer), the charismatic 24 year-old graduate student staying at his parents’ villa in northern Italy, it sets in motion an experience that will linger with both of them forever.
A large percentage of the story focuses on the myriad steps forward and backward between Elio and Oliver before their relationship finally becomes physical. Stressing anticipation through an unhurried buildup is common in Guadagnino’s films. Says Chalamet: “It’s the universally relatable game of cat and mouse and push and pull that occurs between people that are attracted to one another but have suspicions and insecurities about whether the other holds the same level of attraction. They also have trepidations because they aren’t in a time period or a location that is accepting or encouraging of them having an intimate relationship.”