A film that can tug at your heart and break through without the typical bombast or heavy hand of a studio picture is something to relish.

Here, this character study of a 17-year-old and his coming-of-age romance with a 24-year-old manages to burst with affection, sensuous undertones and near-perfect examination of matters of the heart.

Timothee Chalamet bursts onto the scene as Elio, a precocious, sensitive teenager who falls for research assistant Oliver, who is staying with his family for the summer in 1980’s Italy.

The chemistry between the two actors is undeniable, and Armie Hammer gives a career-defining performance as Oliver.

This is the best-acted film of the year, and you’ll yearn for the characters and their outcome.

5/5 Stars