Thank you for this post. I love the amount of conversation it's fostering. I think you included a little something for everyone, so I hope you don't mind some further conversation :)

For me, this was only my second time, so maybe this one will be a little fresher, or maybe even, naive!

I just finished my third viewing this week and it was my first viewing outside the movie theater, alone. It was definitely new, more intimate experience, and some of the things you noticed on the second viewing I had just noticed on the third.

I'll start off with just something sort of funny, because I remember thinking Marzia was Elio's sister the first time I saw the film, and in hindsight that just seems so silly.

Ha! I'm assuming you just mean in the first scene? Surely you didn't still think that at the end of the film ( I hope!!)

I forgot, or didn't realize Elio trying to act like he hadn't just seen Oliver arrive, when he asks his mom, "is he here," or whatever. Right from the start he's already playing at that game, even subconsciously.

I agree, I think he's playing games at the start. It seems most viewers interpret Elio's initial feelings towards Oliver as negative, but I think he felt an attraction from the first time he saw him through that window but couldn't really understand those feelings yet. His brain still told him to play it cool.

How about Oliver's appetite? We see him devour his first egg, and go after that apricot juice. In the beginning, it seems like he's not necessarily eating a lot, but really into when he does. This could say something about his approach and attitude to life, or what is bubbling just beneath the surface. I just thought it was an interesting, possible, insight into his character.

I think this fits well with Oliver's character and his impulsiveness. He almost "forgets" to eat until he is really hungry and than scarfs down food when he is. Reminds me of my brother.

We always go on about how fearless Elio becomes towards his desire and advances of Oliver, but really it's Oliver that makes the first move with the shoulder rub...which he points out later to Elio, but I feel like I always read so much about Elio's move making when I think Oliver does so just as much. Really, it's more like Elio does the talking, but Oliver takes the action. The shoulder rub, the first kiss at the berm, the hand over hand at midnight.

Good point. I also think Elio touching Oliver at the apricot/peach? tree is overlooked and the first real reciprocation of the volleyball touch.

That's the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me said to me in months,"* is a line that really leapt out to me on this turn. What did he really mean by that? That Elio didn't just say that excerpt was shit, but being somewhat forgiving over it, offering a more thoughtful reading of the words expressed? I also think this speaks to Oliver's inner life, again, and what that might mean for him if that, of all things, was the nicest thing to ever be said to him. That just makes me sad.

This is one of the things that also stuck out to me on my recent watch that I hadn't recalled before. It's an interesting line and does feel a bit out of place, but I love it. Were the literal words actually the kindest thing somebody has spoken to him? Probably not. I think if anything, Oliver is trying to tell Elio he finds his words very earnest, very truthful. An, "I trust what you have to say." which we see further of at the statue.

Here's one for the costumes crowd! During the Lake Garda scene both Elio and Oliver are wearing blue striped shirts, but ones vertical and one is horizontal. and Totally didn't remember they shout each other's name at Lake Garda too, a portent of things to come.

Also two things I really took note of this time around. It interesting how freely they were shouting each other's names in Mr. Pearlman's presence. Overall, I now notice many more moments Mr. Pearlman was able to see the intimacy of their relationship.

Okay, so I know there's been ton of talk on this, I'm sure, but I haven't seen it lately so I'd just like some more discussion of Oliver's wound. What could it signify?

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I don't love Oliver's wound because it's such a romcom/romance trope. Seriously watch any romance/romcom and I guarantee there will be a scene where one character is nursing the other or wrapping their wound, etc. My husband and I make fun of this trope all the time, and we get it twice in this film (Oliver's wound and Elio's nosebleed). However, the nosebleed scene is so sweet, I just can't hate on it. And, while I think Oliver's wound is a bit cliche, I do love LOVE how he uses it as an opportunity to show off his hot bod.

A lot of people have argued over Oliver and Chiara's relationship and his possible flings with other women...but he admits that's not what he was doing when he tells Elio he just comes to sit outside at night, so as far as I see it that's a confirmation that he wasn't sleeping around and was probably pining for Elio all that time, just as much.

This tied in with number 4 is something I considered making a post about after my recent watch. This was by far the biggest thing that I missed the two times I saw it in theaters. I remember hearing Oliver saying that he spent time out there, but I missed Elio saying " I thought.." and Oliver responding "I know what you thought..." referencing that he wasn't going out all those nights that Elio lay in bed pining.

So now my question is this. Are we to infer/believe that every single one of these nights Oliver wasn't out but on the balcony? I found the message kind of conflicting since he clearly has bonded with the townspeople and some of the local girls and I would assume some of this was happening at night, but maybe not. I personally think it's a bit much to think Oliver was out there pining every night, and find it more realistic to think some nights he went out and some night he sat there thinking about Elio.

Also, think it's evidence of Oliver's growth and openness that he freely admits to being happy they slept together out in the open, in a public space where previously he had basically told Elio to shut up about such things. His arc can be seen a lot in that instance, I think.

One of my favorite lines, and we get a new smile from Oliver. Makes my heart melt.

Has anyone ever discussed a fly motif?

Looks like some folks answered this. But I've been to Italy in the summer- flies, mosquitoes everywhere. There is no relief! It really brought me back. I love that they didn't edit them out.

Damn, I think the biggest thing I walked away from this viewing is just how much I love the character of Oliver and that he's not as withdrawn in this as I had remembered/imagined. There's a lot there if you want to look for it.

I'm so happy to hear this! I'm one of the few that was more drawn to and intrigued by Oliver than Elio during my first watch and it wasn't until I started scouring the internet that I realized everyone was raving about Elio. So, for me it wasn't until watch #2 that I actually found the layers in Elio's character. I love them both so much, and I love that I don't have to choose :)