Scene from "Call Me Your Name".
In 2017, Call Me by Your Name hit cinemas, became an indie darling and got its twink-heartthrob star, Timothée Chalamet, an Oscar nomination.
The film, directed by Luca Guadagnino, was based on a 2007 novel by André Aciman. In an interview with Vulture in late 2017, Aciman expressed interest in a sequel to his novel.
“A sequel would be wonderful,” he said. “The problem with a sequel is that you need plot.”
A year later, it seems that Aciman might have found his plot. On Dec. 3, he tweeted: “I would actually love a sequel to Call Me by Your Name. In fact I am writing one.”
Now, before you get too excited as you reminisce about short shorts and oversized chambray, remember how we left these characters. The film ends with a devastated Elio crying softly in front of a fire after Oliver has told him of a recent engagement to a woman. Do we really need a sequel?
One of the major appeals of the film was that it showed a queer love story in such an honest and unabashedly romantic fashion. For many years, it had seemed as if any film with a queer storyline had to have a plot involving homophobia, prostitution, or AIDS. Think Brokeback Mountain, My Own Private Idaho, Philadelphia, Angels in America, or Longtime Companion. These are all moving stories and extremely well-made films. But it’s nice to have one gay romance fantasy (albeit a very white upper-class fantasy, but that is a whole other essay).
All of this is to say that most times, we don’t need a sequel. Most times, the original is more than enough. The point was made, the story told.
But if Aciman thinks these characters have more to say, then who are we to say otherwise? And if his sequel comes together, a lot of us will be reading, myself included.