619.call me by your name (2017)

Reader86

In Call Me by Your Name (2017), there’s a memorable scene where Elio’s father (Mr. Perlman) and Oliver are examining classical male nude sculptures. Mr. Perlman describes them as having “firm muscles,” but what stands out is his remark:

“Muscles are firm, not a straight body in these statues. They’re all curved, sometimes impossibly curved, and so nonchalant, hence their ageless ambiguity—as if they’re daring you to desire them.”   

This poetic line speaks directly to the power of desire and the timeless appeal of the human form—a subtle but powerful foreshadowing of the bond forming between Oliver and Elio.

Another symbolic moment involves a bronze statue recovered from Lake Garda. As it’s pulled from the water, Mr. Perlman muses:

“It’s not what has been dug up, it’s what has been brought up, out of the water.”  

That statue—not just an archaeological artifact, but a sensual emblem—mirrors the buried passions rising to the surface among the characters.

These evocative moments draw a parallel between ancient erotic art and the burgeoning intimacy between Oliver and Elio. As one thoughtful fan put it:

“And Oliver touches Elio the way he touched the statue … they’re both treasures to him.”  

Finally, here’s another fan’s take on Mr. Perlman’s statue commentary:

“Oliver gives him this look! It feels like … sensuality of these statues remind me of him … exactly how I feel about him.”  

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So in sum, Mr. Perlman’s words about the bronze statues—highlighting their curved, ambiguous beauty and the way they seem to dare someone to desire them—serve as a quiet, elegant reflection of the film’s central theme: the awakening and acknowledgment of desire.

Would you like to dive deeper into how this film weaves classical art into its emotional narrative?

Reader86

Perfect ???? — because Call Me by Your Name is full of classical art references that deepen the emotional story. Let’s break it down:

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1. The Bronze Statue from Lake Garda
        •        Early in the film, Elio’s father (an art historian/archaeologist) talks about a bronze statue being pulled from the water.
        •        He says it’s not just about what was dug up, but “what has been brought up, out of the water.”
        •        Symbolism: buried feelings and desires rising to the surface — just like Elio’s hidden attraction to Oliver.

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2. The Male Nude Statues
        •        Mr. Perlman studies Greek and Roman statues of young men with Oliver.
        •        He notes their curves, their ambiguity, their sensuality — they look casual but are daring you to desire them.
        •        This mirrors Elio’s feelings: his desire for Oliver is unspoken, subtle, but impossible to ignore.

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3. Art as a Mirror of Desire
        •        Ancient sculptures often celebrate youth, beauty, and eroticism — themes central to Elio’s summer awakening.
        •        The statues are “timeless,” just as the love story is portrayed as something beyond one summer, beyond time itself.
        •        The way Oliver touches the statue while examining it is gentle, almost reverent — a foreshadowing of how he will touch Elio.

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4. Mr. Perlman’s Monologue
        •        At the end, Mr. Perlman gives Elio the unforgettable speech about love and loss.
        •        He connects Elio’s feelings to the beauty of art: that such beauty, like the statues, should be cherished, not buried.
        •        He urges Elio not to shut away his heartbreak, because the depth of feeling is what makes life rich.

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✨ In short: the statues aren’t just background props. They embody the film’s message — that beauty, desire, and vulnerability are timeless, worthy of admiration, and deeply human.

Would you like me to pull out specific statue scenes and show exactly how they line up with Elio and Oliver’s relationship moments?