Calling Summer by Its Name
Roaming the streets, confused by your desires. Coffee in hand, the sun glistening down your neck. Sweat runs past your thighs, and the sky whispers secrets to you. The scene is Northern Italy, and the only things in the world are you, awaiting adventures, and of course, your lover in question.
Ever since I first saw Call Me by Your Name in March of 2020, I knew it would change me forever. I couldn’t stop thinking about the film days after I watched it on my computer in the heat of quarantine. I couldn’t redirect my brain to linger on anything else but Elio and Oliver, the delicate and haunting soundtrack, and the warm color palettes that made up their summer together.
If you’re anything like me, you would do anything to spend the summer months in Italy, frolicking along the streets, eating authentic Italian food while taking in all of the breathtaking nature. But then you remember you’re from Tennessee where the mountains are mainly in the East, and our terrain isn’t necessarily lush. Not to say the South isn’t great in its own way, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t wish to be somewhere in Northern Italy every once in a while.
Don’t let me discourage you though, reader. I’ve compiled a list of ways to bring the aesthetic, vibes, or whatever you want to call it of Call Me by Your Name to your very own town, no matter where you live. There may be a “Mystery of Love,” but there certainly doesn’t have to be a mystery of how to have a Call Me by Your Name summer.
Go strawberry picking in a big field with a group of your friends! Perhaps you can bring a picnic basket and pretend that you’re getting ready to lay by the coast of the Adriatic Sea, or a nearby lagoon. This activity is definitely something Elio would do while he waits for Oliver to return home from his graduate assistant duties.
Bike for miles around your neighborhood and nearby city and play music while you’re doing it. In fact, play the entire Call Me by Your Name soundtrack and feel the wind blow your hair into wild patterns. Imagine you’re in Italy and you’re experiencing the peak in your own coming-of-age movie.
It would be fun to look the part of being in Call Me by Your Name, wouldn’t it? So, head to your nearest thrift store and try to replicate some of the 80’s effortless fashion that all of the characters rock in the film. From light-colored button-downs and subtle graphic tees to denim all around, the clothes in CMBYN are timeless and perfect for a summer look regardless of where you reside.
Make a trip to the library and your local music store! One common interest that brings Elio and Oliver together is their intellectual spirit. They both spend their days reading, while Elio transcribes music as well. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when one day by the pool Oliver asks Elio, “is there anything you don’t know?”
Swim at the river if you have one near you, or, cannonball into a pool with no thoughts in mind. Elio and Oliver enjoy a dip in Elio’s “secret spot,” where the water not only cools them off, but guides them to their true feelings and emotions.
Have candle-lit dinners on warm nights. Elio and his family dine together for the majority of their meals, and enjoy an array of foods—like pastries, citrus foods, and creamy pastas— all under the Italian sun. And, adding some ambient lighting can romanticize your everyday experiences, especially those as important as dinners.
No matter where you are in the world you are, the essence of Call Me by Your Name is a mentality. This movie is all about self-exploration, awakening to your desires, and budding romances. Whether your summer may be a combination of all of those or just one in particular, having a summer in Northern Italy is a mental headspace. In honor of that, say yes, this summer, take chances, bask in the sun a little longer than usual, eat more gelato than you need, and ultimately, remember what summer invites you to do:
“Call me by your name and I’ll call you by mine.”
Stike Out,
Written by Madison Meadows
Edited by Jane Dodge
Graphic by Emma Soefker