When Call Me by Your Name premiered in 2017, it quickly became a film that people in the industry talked about as much as audiences did. Actors, directors, and writers mentioned it in interviews throughout the awards season, often describing how strongly it affected them after watching it.
Here are a few voices from Hollywood who spoke about the film.
Emma Stone
During a conversation with Timothée Chalamet for Variety’s Actors on Actors, Emma Stone spoke about how much the film moved her when she first saw it.
“It’s such a beautiful film. I remember watching it and just feeling completely immersed in that world. There’s something about the way Luca Guadagnino tells the story that feels so natural and honest. It really stayed with me.”
Stone also praised Chalamet’s performance, pointing out how convincingly he captures the vulnerability and emotional confusion of Elio.
Barry Jenkins
Director Barry Jenkins, whose film Moonlight won the Academy Award for Best Picture, also expressed admiration for Call Me by Your Name during the same awards season.
“Call Me by Your Name is extraordinary filmmaking. It understands how to let emotion unfold without forcing it. That kind of patience in storytelling is something I really admire.”
Jenkins highlighted the confidence of the film’s pacing and the way it allows emotional moments to develop gradually rather than pushing them toward obvious dramatic beats.
Greta Gerwig
Filmmaker Greta Gerwig, who was also in the middle of her own breakthrough year with Lady Bird, spoke warmly about Guadagnino’s film in interviews.
“I found it incredibly moving. There’s a generosity in the way Luca lets the characters exist in that world. The film gives them space to feel things without rushing them.”
Gerwig noted how rare it is for a film about first love to trust its characters — and its audience — that much.
Andrew Garfield
Actor Andrew Garfield also mentioned the film in interviews, describing how strongly it affected him emotionally.
“Call Me by Your Name is one of the most beautiful films about love I’ve seen in years. By the end of the film I was in tears. It’s such a delicate and honest story.”
Garfield said the film stands out because it portrays love and vulnerability with unusual sensitivity.
Pedro Almodóvar
Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar has often spoken about the importance of desire and intimacy in cinema, and he expressed admiration for Guadagnino’s approach.
“What I admire in Call Me by Your Name is the way desire appears through small gestures and everyday moments. It’s sensual without needing to explain itself.”
For Almodóvar, the film demonstrates how powerful a story can be when emotion is allowed to surface naturally.
Guillermo del Toro
Director Guillermo del Toro also praised the film during the awards season.
“It’s a film full of grace and sensitivity. It understands love in a very pure way.”
Del Toro highlighted the emotional sincerity of the performances and the confidence of Guadagnino’s direction.
A Film That Reached Beyond Its Audience
In the years since its release, Call Me by Your Name has continued to appear in conversations among filmmakers and actors. Its performances, atmosphere, and attention to emotional detail made it stand out not only for audiences, but also for many people working within the film industry.
For a story about a single summer, the film clearly left a lasting impression far beyond its own world.