SCENES
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Scene Map 60
# PG SLUGLINE
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INT EXT INT/EXT hover for full slug
Scene Map
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# PG SLUGLINE
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1 INT. ELIO’S/OLIVER’S ROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 1 The sound of an approaching car. ELIO, 17, barefoot and in his bathing suit, is in the process of moving his clothes from his room to the adjacent room - a wardrobe somehow refurbished into a single bedroom. The two rooms are
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4 INT. STAIRCASE - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 4 They head up the stairs together; ELIO lunges for the heavy suitcase, OLIVER takes the backpack. ELIO My room is now your room. I’ll be
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8 INT. ELIO’S/OLIVER’S ROOM/BATHROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - DUSK 8 ELIO is at the desk in his small “new” bedroom; he is transcribing music. Next to his desk lamp a walkman is playing music. He hears the bell. He enters the bathroom and the door that connects it to the
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10 EXT. GARDEN IN FRONT OF THE KITCHEN - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 10 The PERLMANS are eating breakfast outside, in front of the kitchen. OLIVER comes out and sits down, watching how ELIO expertly cracks his soft-boiled egg shell, then attempts to do the same, but only a tiny bit of the shell is pierced, so
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11 INT. PROFESSOR PERLMAN’S STUDY - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 11 PERLMAN is attempting to devise a new filing system for his correspondence; there are packs of letters lying about and open boxes with more letters. OLIVER is helping him, ELIO is with them. The professor makes a joking comment like "My
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12 EXT. ROAD TO CREMA - DAY 12 ELIO and OLIVER are riding bicycles, with Elio in the lead. They go along the main road towards the town of Crema and its bank. The day is already hot. 13 EXT. CAFE - CREMA TOWN SQUARE - DAY 13 *
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14 EXT. SOUTH TERRAZZA - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 14 The same day. ELIO is sitting at a table in the shade of the house, practicing his guitar. From where he sits he can see OLIVER ride up on his bike and dismount. He has to pass by ANCHISE, who is doing some garden work with small plants and
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15 INT. LIVING ROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 15 ELIO plays the piece on the piano. OLIVER leans on the door looking in. The music sounds very different from when he played it on his guitar. OLIVER
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17 EXT. STREETS/CARD CAFE - TOWN STREET - DAY 17 Another day. OLIVER and ELIO walk down a street; OLIVER steps into a cafe. Some men inside are sitting at two or three tables with playing cards. Waiters bring coffee and other drinks to the
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18 EXT. MAIN ENTRANCE LAWN - PERLMAN VILLA - AFTERNOON 18 A few of ELIO’S FRIENDS play a volleyball game in a makeshift court set up on the lawn by the main entrance of the villa. OLIVER is playing with CHIARA, MARZIA’s slightly older sister, and another BOY.
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19 EXT. TABLE UNDER THE LIME TREES - PERLMAN VILLA - EVENING 19 A gangly TEENAGER looks on with pretended disdain; his voice is just changing, he has a dark fuzz, unshaven, on his upper lip, he could be Elio three or four years earlier. PERLMAN is amusing the boy’s sisters, TWO YOUNG NIECES, aged
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22 INT. LIVING ROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - NIGHT 22 When everyone returns to the living room, PERLMAN asks his son to play something he then goes in the bar. ELIO Non mi va. (I don’t feel like it)
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25 EXT. LIME TREES - PERLMAN VILLA - AFTERNOON 25 Another day. ELIO is sitting at his usual table under the lime trees, working. From where he's sitting, Elio can see PERLMAN and OLIVER through an open window in his father's study. They are discussing Oliver’s manuscript on
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26 EXT. SOUTH TERRAZZA/ABBEVERATOIO - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 26 Later. ELIO sits with his head back on the cushion of his chair, his eyes closed. OLIVER, far away, is sitting on the edge of the trough, his feet in the water, reading the pages from the manuscript he showed Perlman. He looks towards Elio.
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28 EXT. ABBEVERATOIO - PERLMAN VILLA - AFTERNOON 28 ELIO observes OLIVER swimming in the narrow and long stone trough. ANNELLA is close, but she's moving away with a basket of freshly picked fruit. OLIVER comes out of the water with his green swim trunks.
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30 INT. ELIO’S BEDROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - AFTERNOON 30 ELIO is on his bed wearing only a bathing suit. His right hand is down inside his swim suit. He is tense, expectant, alert to every sound. There are footsteps just outside his door. OLIVER, shirtless, enters the room from the bathroom.
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32 INT. STAIRCASE/BOCCHIRALE - PERLMAN VILLA - AFTERNOON 32 OLIVER comes down the stairs of the house followed by ELIO. They are surprised to find CHIARA and MARZIA there. OLIVER isn’t wearing any shirt and CHIARA makes a ball of the billowy blue shirt he’d been wearing earlier and tosses it at
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33 EXT. RESTAURANT WITH DANCE FLOOR - NIGHT 33 A restaurant bar with an open air dancing floor. Everyone dances. CHIARA does her sexy dancing for OLIVER, who is enjoying himself and is a very good dancer. The music is “Paris Latino” by Bandolero.
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34 EXT. RIVER - NIGHT 34 ELIO and MARZIA are at the river. They strip their clothes off. MARZIA (in french)
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35 INT. ELIO’S BEDROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - NIGHT 35 The same night. All the lights are off. ELIO, sleeping in his bed, is woken up by the sound of Oliver peeing in the adjoining bathroom - the careless, uninhibited male force of it. ELIO listens, then stands up and goes towards the door.
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37 EXT. MAIN ENTRANCE - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 37 Later. ANCHISE is wiping the windshield of the Perlmans’ car. ELIO comes out just as CHIARA arrives on her bike. She asks him where Oliver is. ELIO
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38 INT./EXT. PERLMAN CAR - DAY - LATER 38 PERLMAN drives the car through the countryside, OLIVER has a map open on his legs. Hot air blows in through all the open windows. They are silent as the news plays on the radio, reporting on the P2 Masonic lodge.
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42 EXT. SIRMIONE - GROTTE DI CATULLO (BEACH) - AFTERNOON 42 Later, back on the beach. The bronze has been dried and cleaned. PERLMAN is speaking in Italian with the other men and women who took part in the operation, and who are analyzing the find.
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46 INT. OLIVER’S ROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - NIGHT 46 OLIVER is sitting at his desk in his boxer shorts only, working; only the desk light is on. A lit cigarette between his fingers. A radio plays some summer music at a low volume. Oliver wraps up his corrections on a page and marks it: “to
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50 INT. LIVING ROOM / KITCHEN - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 50 The next day. The storm has passed, leaving a coolness. ELIO is playing the piano. He is immersed in thought, his mind is elsewhere. He breaks off, gets up, moves from room to room downstairs. The kitchen is empty as well. It’s the hour of
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55 EXT. ABBEVERATOIO - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 55 Later. ELIO is sitting under the trees with his score book open. OLIVER sits on the edge of the stone trough with his feet in the water, he is wearing his straw hat. ELIO
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56 EXT. PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 56 On the way to the shed to collect their bikes, they pass ANCHISE, who hands OLIVER his bike with a wry smile. OLIVER smiles back. ANCHISE
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57 EXT. TOWN SQUARE - DAY 57 They arrive on their bikes at the little town square. OLIVER buys a pack of cigarettes, Gauloises. He lights one up, then offers one to ELIO. OLIVER
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58 EXT. COUNTRY ROAD/SPRINGS - FONTANILI GAVERINE - DAY 58 Now that ELIO has laid his cards on the table, the scenery and the fine weather buoy his spirits. They ride together on the empty country road that at this time of day is all for them. The sun pounds exposed patches along the way, exposing
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59 EXT. ROAD - DAY 59 They glide down the slope on their bikes, with wind in their hair. ELIO We’ll never speak again, you know..
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62 INT. BAR - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 62 Later. In a very tight and confined space beside the living room is the Perlman bar. ELIO is sitting on the floor, his head tilted back, and is holding a napkin full of ice - now a mixture of blood and water - on his nose. Beside him is an
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64 INT. LIVING ROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 64 The girls burst into the living room where Elio is lying on the couch. CHIARA sits at the foot of it, MARZIA stands peering down at ELIO. He looks up at her a bit sheepishly. CHIARA takes a cigarette out of a pack and lights it. She
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65A INT. KITCHEN / PATIO - PERLMAN VILLA - LATER 65A ELIO makes himself a smoothie in Mafalda’s kitchen, cutting up a peach, a banana, then a pear, dates. Mafalda wants to do it for him and tries to take the knife away. To her, a smoothie is a foreign concoction.
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68 EXT. GARDEN IN FRONT OF THE KITCHEN - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 68 * The next day. ELIO is the last to arrive. He pretends to ignore OLIVER, who is cracking open the top of his soft- boiled egg. ANNELLA looks at OLIVER in a worried way: ANNELLA
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69 EXT. MAIN ENTRANCE LAWN - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 69 OLIVER is doing some work for Perlman, specify. He seems hard at work and does not look up as ELIO approaches. ELIO doesn’t know how to break the silence. Then he sees and kicks the volleyball lying under the nearby lime trees. The ball hits
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71 EXT. MAIN ENTRANCE LAWN - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY (CONT’D) 71 The conversation continues. OLIVER I’ll pick it up for you if you want.
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72 EXT. SPRINGS - FONTANILI GAVERINE - DAY 72 The vital, pure, and joyful sight of a fresh water spring, the unstoppable stream gushing out from earth. NARRATOR (V.O.) Two young men travelling by bike,
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75 EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - FONTANILI GAVERINE - DAY 75 On the return ride, ELIO ignores the turn to “his place”, i Fontanili. OLIVER, on the other hand, recognizes it, and as he passes sees the pathway disappearing into the trees. Oliver’s POV of the path.
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77 INT. KITCHEN - PERLMAN VILLA - NIGHT 77 Later, after dinner. MAFALDA is cleaning up the kitchen. ELIO, restless, comes in and goes to the fridge, scoops up some ice cream into a bowl, and goes outside, eating as he walks.
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81 EXT. STREETS - CREMA - NIGHT 81 Elio and Marzia are wheeling their bikes through the town streets. Elio sees a bookstand and asks Marzia to hold his bicycle. We stay with Marzia who sees Elio feverishly browse through the stand. He finds something he likes and buys it.
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84 EXT. RIVER - NIGHT 84 A deserted spot on the river, later. MARZIA and ELIO make love on the grass. He pulls out just in time and ejaculates on her belly. They burst out laughing. ELIO
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86 EXT. GARDEN IN FRONT OF THE KITCHEN - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 86 Breakfast. PROFESSOR PERLMAN sits behind his newspaper, while a very sleepy ELIO cracks his egg. OLIVER walks in, sits down, and without looking at ELIO, says:
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88 INT. PROFESSOR PERLMAN’S STUDY - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 88 * OLIVER and PROFESSOR PERLMAN project images of classical athletes in his study. On the screen is a close-up detail of a bronze navel in an impressively muscled stomach. There are several of these, and PERLMAN points out stylistic
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91 EXT. ABBEVERATOIO - PERLMAN VILLA - AFTERNOON 91 By the abbeveratoio. ELIO is asleep, his face resting on his hand. MARZIA arrives on her bike just as OLIVER leaves on his. They pause in the road to say hello. MARZIA continues towards the house and approaches the sleeping ELIO.
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97 INT. ELIO’S BEDROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - EVENING 97 ELIO finds his father in his room going through all his son’s shirts hanging in the closet in order to pick out the unwanted present. He hands it to ELIO, who groans. ELIO
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99 INT. LIVING ROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - LATER 99 ELIO is playing the piano. For his final selection, he has chosen a piece by Poulenc. The others listen almost reverently. His wristwatch is on the piano. As he is concluding, OLIVER comes in from outside and makes
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103 INT. ELIO’S BEDROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - NIGHT 103 When ELIO emerges from the bathroom he hears voices coming up from below as the guests are leaving. He reaches the window and looks down at “Laurel and Hardy” who stand by the car saying their goodbyes and laughing affectionately. The two
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105 INT. OLIVER’S BEDROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - NIGHT 105 OLIVER sits on the bed, his legs crossed, looking smaller, younger. ELIO stands awkwardly at the foot of the bed, not knowing what to do with his hands. He keeps putting them in his pockets, then taking them out again.
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106 INT. OLIVER’S ROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - DAWN 106 Dawn. Light is coming in. OLIVER is still cradling ELIO in his arms but has shifted to a more comfortable position for them both. ELIO opens his eyes, sees OLIVER looking down at him but instead of smiling or lifting his face to be kissed,
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108 EXT. RIVER - FIRST LIGHT OF DAY 108 At the river, OLIVER walks knee-deep in the water with the blue shirt on, then dives in and swims away. Elio is swimming 200 meters away, from a distance they look like two complete strangers.
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113 EXT. PIAZZA DUOMO - CREMA - DAY 113 The central square with Crema's Duomo. ELIO sees OLIVER at the newstand, sitting on his bike and scanning the headlines of the International Herald Tribune, before heading in the direction of the post office. ELIO rushes up to him.
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116 INT. ATTIC - PERLMAN VILLA - EARLY AFTERNOON 116 ELIO enters the attic. Puts the remaining peach on the old bedside table and lies down on the mattress where he made love with Marzia. He opens his book and starts reading but, easily distracted, starts looking outside the window at the
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117 INT./EXT. HUT - PERLMAN VILLA - NIGHT 117 The same night. The Perlman house is mostly dark, the window shutters all closed. There is a little light out in the hut next to the garage, where Anchise sleeps. We see him through the window, sitting at a table working on something. He has
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121 INT. ELIO’S BEDROOM - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY 121 Next day. Oliver’s blue shirt is on a hanger, all clean and pressed by Mafalda, with an attached note: “For Oliver, from Elio.” Elio strips off the shirt he’s wearing and puts on the fresh one from Oliver. He looks at himself approvingly in the
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125 EXT. WAR MEMORIAL - PANDINO - DUSK 125 * OLIVER and ELIO, still wearing their swimsuits, are in front * of the War World I Memorial for Fallen Soldiers, in the nearby town of Pandino. Elio crosses the steps and tries to * put his arms around it; he stands there spread-eagled. *
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129 INT. HOTEL BEDROOM - BERGAMO - AFTERNOON 129 ELIO and OLIVER enter their hotel bedroom in Bergamo. They look around and laugh, for no apparent reason. Later. There is a large window looking out over the front entrance of the hotel and a parking lot adjoining it.
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132 EXT. STRADA CON FONTANA - BERGAMO - DAWN 132 OLIVER holds ELIO's forehead as he pukes. Elio stands away from the wall making an "I'm okay now" gesture, and goes to the fountain nearby to splash water on his face. ELIO
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136 INT./EXT. CAR/COUNTRY ROAD - AFTERNOON 136 ANNELLA is with ELIO in the car. She is driving back to the villa. ELIO is silent. Oliver’s blue shirt is open over Elio's bare chest and blows in the wind. She looks at him. She reaches out with her free hand and
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139 INT. STAIRCASE - PERLMAN VILLA - AFTERNOON 139 ELIO meets MAFALDA coming down the stairs. MAFALDA I fixed up your room the way it was.
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142 EXT. CAMPAGNA - PERLMAN VILLA - WINTER DAY 142 The Perlman villa in Winter. A foggy day. Six months later, ELIO walks in the countryside that surrounds the villa. NARRATORE They had become each other that
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Call me by your name

A transformative summer romance unfolds between a seventeen-year-old and his father's charming guest, leaving an indelible mark on their lives.

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Overview

Poster
Unique Selling Point

What sets this screenplay apart is its intimate portrayal of a summer romance that transcends cultural and generational boundaries. The lush Italian setting serves as a backdrop for a deeply personal story that resonates with anyone who has experienced the complexities of love and loss. Its unique blend of poetic dialogue and vivid imagery creates a compelling narrative that invites the audience to reflect on their own experiences of love.

AI Verdict

Gemini
 Highly Recommend
Claude
 Recommend
GPT4
 Highly Recommend
See Details in P/C/R/HR Section
Story Facts
Genres:
Drama 60% Romance 50% Comedy 20%

Setting: 1980s, Perlman villa and surrounding areas in Italy

Themes: First Love and its Complexities, Self-Discovery and Identity, Cultural and Class Differences, Parental Influence and Observation

Conflict & Stakes: Elio's internal struggle with his burgeoning feelings for Oliver, the complexities of young love, and the fear of impending separation.

Mood: Bittersweet and introspective

Standout Features:

  • Unique Hook: The story's focus on a summer romance between a young boy and an older man, exploring the complexities of first love.
  • Distinctive Setting: The picturesque Italian countryside serves as a vibrant backdrop, enhancing the romantic atmosphere.
  • Character Depth: The nuanced portrayal of Elio's emotional journey and his relationship with Oliver adds layers to the narrative.
  • Cultural Context: The exploration of Jewish identity and cultural heritage adds depth to the characters' backgrounds.

Comparable Scripts: Call Me by Your Name, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Maurice, Brokeback Mountain, The Way He Looks, A Single Man, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Pride, The Dreamers

Script Level Analysis

Writer Exec

This section delivers a top-level assessment of the screenplay’s strengths and weaknesses — covering overall quality (P/C/R/HR), character development, emotional impact, thematic depth, narrative inconsistencies, and the story’s core philosophical conflict. It helps identify what’s resonating, what needs refinement, and how the script aligns with professional standards.

Screenplay Insights

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Overall Score: 8.50
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Story Critique
Big-picture feedback on the story’s clarity, stakes, cohesion, and engagement.
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Characters
Explores the depth, clarity, and arc of the main and supporting characters.
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Emotional Analysis

Breaks down the emotional journey of the audience across the script.

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Goals and Philosophical Conflict
Evaluates character motivations, obstacles, and sources of tension throughout the plot.
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Themes
Analysis of the themes of the screenplay and how well they’re expressed.
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Logic & Inconsistencies
Highlights any contradictions, plot holes, or logic gaps that may confuse viewers.
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Scene Analysis

All of your scenes analyzed individually and compared, so you can zero in on what to improve.

Scene-Level Percentile Chart
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Other Analyses

Writer Exec

This section looks at the extra spark — your story’s voice, style, world, and the moments that really stick. These insights might not change the bones of the script, but they can make it more original, more immersive, and way more memorable. It’s where things get fun, weird, and wonderfully you.

Unique Voice
Assesses the distinctiveness and personality of the writer's voice.
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Writer's Craft
Analyzes the writing to help the writer be aware of their skill and improve.
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Memorable Lines
Spotlights standout dialogue lines with emotional or thematic power.
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Tropes
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World Building
Evaluates the depth, consistency, and immersion of the story's world.
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Correlations
Identifies patterns in scene scores.
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Loglines
Presents logline variations based on theme, genre, and hook.
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BETA Layered Read is an early preview — the analysis is still being tuned, so expect the occasional rough edge or off note. Treat it as a guide, not gospel.
▸ What you’re looking at

Your whole script read on three things — Design (is it built), Execution (does it play on the page), and Read (does it grip) — then mapped scene by scene. The rows go Script → Acts → Sequences → Scenes in story order, left to right; a unit’s width is its length in pages.

Colour depends on the mode. By default you’re on Triage — a recommendation for each part: Keep (green), Polish, Rework, or Cut / rebuild (red). Switch Colour by (top) to a lens (Design / Execution / Read) or one of the twelve axes and the colour becomes that signal’s score instead — red (needs work) through green (strong), with grey where a part isn’t owed that signal. Either way it’s a map of where to look.

To explore: click any cell for its detailed read — what’s working, what’s dragging, and your options. When a script has acts, hover an act and hit ⤢ Focus to zoom into it. Use Colour by (top) to recolour by a single craft signal, or the Findings / Axes / Patterns tabs to read it different ways.

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Pass / Consider / Recommend Analysis
HR
Gemini
Executive Summary
Call Me By Your Name is a remarkably well-crafted screenplay demonstrating exceptional strengths in character development, evocative setting, and thematic resonance. The subtle yet powerful exploration of first love and its complexities, coupled with the exquisite use of language and visual storytelling, makes it a truly compelling and moving cinematic experience. While minor areas for improvement exist regarding pacing in certain scenes and potentially expanding on secondary characters, these are overshadowed by the overall brilliance of the script.
Strengths
  • The screenplay masterfully develops its characters through subtle actions, nuanced dialogue, and evocative imagery. The setting of the Italian countryside is beautifully rendered, adding depth and emotional weight to the narrative. The use of the narrator provides insightful commentary and adds an additional layer to the storytelling. The film masterfully balances intimacy and restraint, leading to potent emotional impact. high ( Scene 10 Scene 14 Scene 27 Scene 116 Scene 141 )
  • The intimate scenes are handled with both sensitivity and honesty, avoiding gratuitous depictions while fully conveying the emotional intensity of the relationship. high ( Scene 105 Scene 116 Scene 132 )
  • The dialogue is sharp, witty, and realistic, reflecting the complexities of the characters' personalities and relationships. medium ( Scene 11 Scene 36 Scene 68 )
  • The screenplay utilizes evocative imagery and visual storytelling to enhance the emotional impact of the narrative and the beauty of the setting. The pacing is generally well-managed creating a sense of realism and allowing the emotional arc to unfold naturally. high ( Scene 6 Scene 12 Scene 58 Scene 128 Scene 137 )
  • The ending is both satisfying and poignant, leaving a lasting impression on the audience. The thematic exploration of love, loss, and self-discovery resonates long after the credits roll. high ( Scene 141 )
Areas of Improvement
  • While the primary relationship is deeply explored, some secondary characters could benefit from further development to enrich the overall texture of the community surrounding Elio and Oliver. low ( Scene 17 Scene 18 )
  • A few scenes could be slightly tightened to maintain a consistent pace. Some segments might feel slightly slow compared to others. low ( Scene 130 )
Missing Elements
  • The screenplay could potentially benefit from a slightly more explicit depiction of the aftermath of Oliver's departure. A brief scene might add emotional depth to the final moments. low
Notable Points
  • The use of the narrator to associate Oliver's personality with his swimsuit choices is a unique and memorable stylistic choice. medium ( Scene 27 )
  • The discovery of the bronze statue serves as a powerful metaphor for the uncovering of hidden emotions and desires. medium ( Scene 41 )
  • The father's final speech is a masterpiece of subtle wisdom and acceptance, offering profound insights into the complexities of love and life. high ( Scene 141 )
Blind Spots
  • Underrepresentation of female perspectives While Marzia and Chiara are present, their experiences and motivations are not explored as deeply as Elio and Oliver's. Their roles primarily revolve around their relationships to the two male protagonists, rather than having fully developed internal lives and desires of their own. For example, Marzia's emotional journey after Elio's confession is somewhat underdeveloped. medium
HR
GPT4
Executive Summary
The screenplay for 'Call Me by Your Name' is a beautifully crafted exploration of first love, identity, and the bittersweet nature of memory. It excels in character development, particularly in the nuanced portrayal of Elio and Oliver's relationship, which evolves from curiosity to deep emotional connection. The dialogue is rich and layered, enhancing the themes of longing and desire. However, there are moments where pacing could be improved, particularly in the middle sections, which may feel drawn out. Overall, the screenplay is compelling and resonates with audiences through its authentic emotional depth.
Strengths
Areas of Improvement
  • Some sections of the screenplay feel drawn out, particularly in the middle, which could benefit from tighter pacing. medium ( Scene Sequence number 7 (34) )
  • There are moments where character motivations could be more clearly defined, particularly regarding Elio's feelings towards Marzia. medium ( Scene Sequence number 8 (50) )
  • The resolution of certain subplots, such as Elio's relationship with Marzia, feels somewhat abrupt and could be explored further. medium ( Scene Sequence number 9 (86) )
  • The transition between scenes can sometimes feel jarring, disrupting the flow of the narrative. medium ( Scene Sequence number 10 (125) )
  • The screenplay could benefit from more varied emotional beats to maintain engagement throughout. medium ( Scene Sequence number 11 (142) )
Missing Elements
Notable Points
  • The ending is poignant and reflective, leaving a lasting impression on the audience about the nature of love and memory. high ( Scene Sequence number 17 (142) )
  • The use of music throughout the screenplay enhances the emotional landscape and connects the characters' experiences. high ( Scene Sequence number 18 (125) )
  • The screenplay's exploration of sexuality is handled with sensitivity and authenticity, making it relatable to a wide audience. high ( Scene Sequence number 19 (50) )
  • The dynamic between Elio and his parents adds depth to the narrative, showcasing a supportive family environment. high ( Scene Sequence number 20 (86) )
  • The screenplay's ability to evoke nostalgia and longing is a significant strength, resonating with audiences on a personal level. high ( Scene Sequence number 21 (142) )
Blind Spots
  • Character Motivation The screenplay occasionally lacks clarity in character motivations, particularly regarding Elio's feelings towards Marzia and how they contrast with his feelings for Oliver. This could lead to confusion about his emotional journey. medium
Credibility Flags
  • Pacing Issues Certain scenes feel overly drawn out, which can disrupt the flow of the narrative. For example, the middle sections may benefit from tighter editing to maintain engagement. medium
R
Claude
Executive Summary
The screenplay for "Call Me By Your Name" is a beautifully crafted, emotionally resonant coming-of-age drama that explores the complexities of first love and the profound impact of a transformative summer. Set in 1980s Italy, the story follows the blossoming romance between 17-year-old Elio and his father's 25-year-old summer intern, Oliver. The screenplay deftly navigates the characters' journey, capturing the nuances of their burgeoning relationship, the social and familial dynamics at play, and the universal themes of self-discovery, desire, and the bittersweet nature of young love. With its rich visual storytelling, well-developed characters, and poetic dialogue, the screenplay showcases a distinctive and compelling voice that would likely appeal to an audience seeking a thoughtful, character-driven drama.
Strengths
  • The screenplay's opening scenes effectively introduce the central characters, Elio and Oliver, and establish the setting and tone of the story. The descriptions of their interactions and the Perlman family's dynamics create an immersive and authentic world that draws the reader in. high ( Scene 1 (1) Scene 2 (4) )
  • The scenes depicting the growing connection and rapport between Elio and Oliver, through their discussions and musical exchanges, are beautifully crafted and effectively convey the developing bond between the two characters. high ( Scene 5 (11) Scene 7 (15) )
  • The screenplay's handling of the intimate moments between Elio and Oliver, including the pivotal scene in the secluded spring, is sensitive and emotionally resonant, capturing the characters' vulnerabilities and the complexity of their feelings. high ( Scene 28 (58) Scene 29 (72) )
  • The screenplay's exploration of the Perlman family dynamics and the nuanced relationship between Elio and his father is a strength, providing depth and context to the central narrative. high ( Scene 39 (139) Scene 41 (141) )
  • The screenplay's strong sense of place, captured through the vivid descriptions of the Perlman villa and its surrounding environment, helps to immerse the reader in the story's setting and enhance the overall atmosphere. medium ( Scene 1 (1) Scene 2 (4) Scene 3 (8) )
Areas of Improvement
  • While the intimate scenes between Elio and Marzia are effectively portrayed, the screenplay could potentially benefit from further exploration and development of their relationship, as it serves as a counterpoint to Elio's connection with Oliver. medium ( Scene 33 (83) Scene 34 (84) )
  • The scenes involving Elio's friends and their reactions to Oliver's presence could be expanded upon to provide a richer understanding of the social and cultural context in which the story takes place. medium ( Scene 10 (18) Scene 11 (19) )
  • The screenplay could benefit from occasional moments of levity or humor to balance the more serious and emotional moments, as the overall tone can sometimes feel quite heavy. low ( Scene 4 (10) Scene 6 (13) )
Missing Elements
  • While the screenplay effectively establishes the setting and the Perlman family's dynamics, there could be a more explicit exploration of the socio-cultural and historical context in which the story takes place, particularly in relation to the characters' backgrounds and experiences. medium ( Scene 1 (1) Scene 2 (4) )
  • The screenplay could benefit from additional scenes or moments that provide a deeper understanding of Oliver's motivations and decision-making process, as his actions and choices can sometimes feel opaque to the reader. medium ( Scene 26 (55) Scene 27 (56) )
Notable Points
  • The screenplay's handling of the intimate scenes between Elio and Oliver is a notable strength, as it manages to capture the tenderness, vulnerability, and complexity of their relationship without resorting to gratuitous or exploitative depictions. high ( Scene 28 (58) Scene 29 (72) )
  • The screenplay's exploration of the Perlman family dynamics and the nuanced relationship between Elio and his father is a notable strength, as it provides depth and context to the central narrative and reflects the universal themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. high ( Scene 39 (139) Scene 41 (141) )
  • The screenplay's strong sense of place, captured through the vivid descriptions of the Perlman villa and its surrounding environment, is a notable strength that helps to immerse the reader in the story's setting and enhance the overall atmosphere. medium ( Scene 1 (1) Scene 2 (4) Scene 3 (8) )
  • The screenplay's handling of the aftermath of Oliver's departure and Elio's emotional journey is a notable strength, as it sensitively explores the character's grief, growth, and the lasting impact of their relationship. high ( Scene 51 (137) Scene 58 (144) )
  • The screenplay's use of multiple perspectives, including the Perlman family members and various supporting characters, is a notable strength that provides a richer and more nuanced understanding of the story's themes and emotional impact. medium ( Scene 2 (4) Scene 3 (8) Scene 4 (10) )
Blind Spots
  • Representation While the screenplay effectively explores the intimacy and complexities of Elio and Oliver's relationship, it could benefit from a more nuanced representation of the broader LGBTQ+ community and their experiences within the cultural and social context of the story's setting. The screenplay's focus on the central romance, while powerful, may overlook opportunities to provide a richer and more diverse portrayal of the LGBTQ+ experience. medium
Credibility Flags
  • Overwriting Occasionally, the screenplay exhibits a tendency towards excessive description or flowery language, particularly in certain scene descriptions. While the poetic nature of the writing is generally a strength, there are a few instances where the descriptive elements may be overstated or could be condensed to streamline the storytelling. low
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Summary

High-level overview

Title: Call Me by Your Name

Summary:

Set against the picturesque backdrop of 1980s Italy, "Call Me by Your Name" follows the intense and transformative summer romance between a 17-year-old boy, Elio Perlman, and his father's graduate student, 25-year-old Oliver. As Oliver arrives at the Perlman villa, Elio grapples with feelings of jealousy and rivalry, referring to Oliver as 'the usurper.' Their initial interactions are marked by awkwardness and tension, yet an undeniable attraction begins to emerge.

Elio's fascination with Oliver grows as they share mundane moments together, from bike rides and coffee at a café to intimate family dinners—all infused with playful banter and emotional complexity. Elio's attempts to connect with Oliver often feel thwarted by Oliver's non-committal demeanor, leaving Elio both inspired and frustrated. Their dynamic shifts as they share moments of vulnerability, playfulness, and artistic expressions, underpinning Elio’s growing feelings and insecurities.

As the days unfold, Elio navigates conflicting emotions, dating Marzia while simultaneously developing a profound connection with Oliver. Tension builds through intimate conversations and physical closeness, culminating in a pivotal moment where Elio and Oliver finally surrender to their desires, leading to a passionate encounter that deepens their bond.

However, the fleeting nature of their summer together looms overhead. Elio wrestles with the pain of impending separation as Oliver prepares to return to America. Their experiences culminate in bittersweet moments of intimacy, longing, and emotional honesty, ultimately highlighting the beauty and tragedy of youth and desire.

As the summer comes to a close, Elio faces the fallout of their romance. He is left to confront his feelings of loss and heartache when Oliver departs, leading to introspective reflections on love and the ephemeral nature of shared moments. The story concludes months later as Elio hears from Oliver, who is now engaged, prompting a poignant examination of memory, longing, and the enduring impact of their time together.

"Call Me by Your Name" is a rich exploration of first love, self-discovery, and the bittersweet nature of fleeting moments, capturing the essence of youthful passion and the complexity of emotional connections that resonate long after the summer sun has set.

Call Me by Your Name

Synopsis

Set in the summer of 1983 in Northern Italy, 'Call Me by Your Name' follows the passionate and transformative relationship between Elio Perlman, a 17-year-old boy, and Oliver, a 24-year-old American graduate student who comes to stay with Elio's family for the summer. Elio, who is intelligent and introspective, spends his days transcribing music and exploring the beautiful Italian countryside. When Oliver arrives, he is immediately captivated by the older man's charm and confidence, which contrasts sharply with his own more reserved nature.

As the summer unfolds, Elio and Oliver engage in a series of flirtatious encounters, filled with tension and unspoken desires. Elio's initial feelings of jealousy and confusion about his attraction to Oliver are compounded by his relationship with Marzia, a local girl with whom he shares a brief romance. However, it is Oliver who occupies Elio's thoughts, leading to a complex emotional journey as Elio grapples with his burgeoning sexuality and the societal expectations of the time.

The two young men eventually find themselves drawn together, sharing intimate moments that deepen their connection. They explore the lush landscapes of Italy, swim in the river, and share their thoughts on life, love, and art. Their relationship culminates in a passionate encounter that changes both of their lives forever. However, as the summer comes to an end, Oliver must return to America, leaving Elio heartbroken and longing for the connection they shared.

In the aftermath of their summer romance, Elio reflects on the impact Oliver had on his life, grappling with the bittersweet memories of their time together. The film concludes with a poignant moment of realization for Elio, as he learns to embrace the beauty of love, loss, and the fleeting nature of youth. 'Call Me by Your Name' is a tender exploration of first love, identity, and the complexities of human relationships, set against the backdrop of a sun-soaked Italian summer.

Scene by Scene Summaries

Scene by Scene Summaries

  • In this scene, 17-year-old Elio observes the arrival of 25-year-old Oliver at the Perlman villa, feeling a mix of jealousy and rivalry as he refers to Oliver as 'the usurper.' Accompanied by Marzia, Elio is instructed by his mother, Annella, to assist Oliver with his luggage. The tension escalates as Elio and Oliver are formally introduced in Professor Perlman's study, where their handshake reveals Oliver's non-committal demeanor, leaving Elio grappling with his emotions.
  • Elio and Oliver arrive at the Perlman villa, where Elio offers to share his room with the tired Oliver. As they pass Marzia, Oliver shows curiosity, hinting at potential interest. Once in the room, Oliver quickly falls asleep, leaving Elio to manage the situation alone. The scene captures the contrast between Elio's eagerness and Oliver's exhaustion, setting the stage for their developing relationship.
  • In a dimly lit Perlman villa, Elio wakes Oliver to inform him about dinner. Oliver, disoriented and reluctant, decides to skip the meal and asks Elio to excuse him to his mother. Elio, feeling a mix of concern and embarrassment, agrees and leaves Oliver to return to sleep. The scene captures the awkward yet intimate dynamic between the two, setting the stage for their evolving relationship.
  • During breakfast at the Perlman villa, Oliver struggles to crack a soft-boiled egg, prompting Mafalda to assist him. As the family engages in light conversation about local towns and Oliver's needs, Elio offers to show him around, revealing his fascination with Oliver. The atmosphere is playful yet tense, highlighted by Oliver's self-awareness when he declines a third egg, leaving Elio feeling intimidated.
  • In Professor Perlman's study, he attempts to organize his correspondence with the help of Oliver and Elio. Annella brings apricot juice, sparking a discussion about the word's etymology. Oliver corrects Perlman's assertion about the word's origins, impressing the group with his knowledge. The atmosphere is light-hearted, filled with playful banter and camaraderie, as Perlman concedes to Oliver's correctness. The scene concludes with Perlman jokingly claiming he was testing Oliver, while Annella and Elio share a knowing smile.
  • On a hot summer day in Crema, Elio and Oliver ride bicycles to a cafe where they share coffee and discuss their lives as Jewish individuals in small towns. Elio opens up about his summer activities, while Oliver appears distracted. As they prepare to leave, Oliver steadies Elio when he loses his balance, but ultimately rides off, leaving Elio alone in the almost empty town square, highlighting a mix of camaraderie and isolation.
  • In a tense scene at the Perlman Villa, Elio practices guitar in the shade, feeling unsettled by Oliver's cold gaze as he interacts with Anchise. After Oliver lies down to read, he encourages Elio to play his music again, despite Elio's insecurities about Oliver's indifference. The emotional complexity of their interaction leaves Elio feeling intimidated, ultimately leading him to retreat into the house, leaving their conversation unresolved.
  • In a sunlit living room, Elio plays a piano piece, infusing it with his own variations inspired by Liszt and Busoni, while Oliver listens from the doorway. Oliver's curiosity turns to frustration as he requests the original Bach piece, which Elio eventually plays, revealing its dedication to Bach's brother. The scene shifts to Elio writing in his diary, where he reflects on his earlier harshness towards Oliver and grapples with feelings of insecurity about their relationship.
  • In a bustling cafe, Oliver joins a lively card game, quickly bonding with the players and showcasing his charm. Elio, sitting nearby, translates for Oliver but feels sidelined as Oliver becomes engrossed in the game. The scene captures the lighthearted atmosphere of the cafe while highlighting Elio's subtle longing and sense of being overlooked.
  • On the lawn of the Perlman villa, Elio's friends engage in a lively volleyball game with Oliver, a charming American who draws Elio's admiration and discomfort. As Oliver playfully massages Elio's shoulder, Elio feels a mix of attraction and unease, leading him to retreat to a table under the lime trees. While his friends, including Marzia and Maria, joke about the situation, Elio grapples with his feelings, rubbing the spot where Oliver touched him, as the playful atmosphere shifts to a more introspective tone.
  • In the evening at the Perlman villa, a gangly teenager observes Perlman entertaining his young nieces with a card trick while Elio, upstairs, anxiously awaits Oliver's arrival. As dinner guests gather, Elio expresses frustration over Oliver's absence, perceiving him as rude and arrogant. Perlman defends Oliver's shyness, but Elio fears growing resentment towards him. Annella dismisses Elio's concerns and orders the removal of Oliver's place setting, deepening Elio's sense of loss. The scene concludes with Perlman performing for the children, highlighting the tension of Oliver's absence.
  • In the Perlman villa's living room, Elio initially resists playing music despite his father's encouragement and Annelia's playful urging to socialize. A teenage boy's humorous imitation of a spider lightens the mood, prompting Elio to finally engage with the piano. The scene shifts to Elio's bedroom, where he experiences restlessness and curiosity about Oliver, culminating in a moment of hesitation as dawn breaks.
  • In the afternoon light at the Perlman villa, Elio sits under lime trees, absorbed in his work while listening to his father, Perlman, engage in a thoughtful critique of Oliver's manuscript on Heraclitus. Perlman encourages Oliver to embrace the philosopher's paradoxical ideas, prompting Oliver to acknowledge the need for improvement. Meanwhile, Anchise arrives with a large fish, adding a touch of familial warmth to the scene. The atmosphere blends intellectual discourse with light-hearted domesticity, culminating in Elio's distraction by the lively sounds from the kitchen.
  • In this scene, Elio relaxes with his eyes closed while Oliver, in a red bathing suit, reads from a manuscript he previously shared with Perlman. Oliver expresses confusion about his work, prompting Elio to offer a compliment that leads to an awkward moment. The narration explores Oliver's multifaceted personality through the symbolism of his colorful bathing suits. The setting at the Perlman villa adds to the introspective and subtly tense atmosphere, highlighting Elio's mixed feelings of admiration and discomfort in their interaction.
  • In a light-hearted afternoon at the Perlman villa, Elio watches Oliver swim in a stone trough while his mother, Annella, picks fruit. After a playful exchange where Elio keeps his thoughts private, Oliver joins Annella in the orchard, climbing a ladder to pick ripe fruit. The scene captures their youthful curiosity and attraction as Oliver tosses apricots down to Elio and Annella, ending with a transition to a quieter moment as Oliver arrives on his bike from town.
  • In Elio's bedroom, he finds himself in an embarrassing situation when Oliver enters shirtless from the bathroom. Elio awkwardly claims to have an allergy to avoid swimming with others, but Oliver suggests they swim together, intensifying Elio's internal struggle with his feelings. After Oliver leaves to change, Elio, frustrated with himself, decides to change his bathing suit and catches a glimpse of Oliver getting dressed, leaving him in a state of heightened awareness and confusion.
  • In the Perlman villa's bocchirale, Oliver descends shirtless, followed by Elio, and encounters Chiara and Marzia. Chiara playfully tosses Oliver's shirt and insists on going to the river, while teasingly flirting with Oliver, much to Elio's envy. As Oliver gathers loose papers, Chiara boasts about her translation skills, and Oliver humorously engages with her. Elio hands Oliver his sunglasses and a book, highlighting their intimacy. The scene culminates with Chiara leading Oliver out as he puts on his blue shirt, leaving Elio feeling a mix of admiration and jealousy.
  • In a vibrant restaurant with an open-air dance floor, Chiara dances seductively with Oliver, igniting Elio's jealousy and longing as he watches from a distance with Marzia and friends. As Oliver showcases his charm, Elio struggles with his feelings but is encouraged by Marzia to join the dance. The scene captures the playful energy and underlying tension of attraction, culminating in Elio's confident dance that earns him applause from his friends, while Marzia observes with amusement.
  • Elio and Marzia share an intimate night by the river, undressing and swimming together, which highlights their playful connection. Marzia questions Elio about his feelings for Chiara, revealing underlying tension, but Elio denies any anger. After a tender moment of kissing, they agree to meet again the next night, with Marzia insisting on secrecy about their rendezvous.
  • Elio wakes up to the sound of Oliver in the bathroom, leading to a playful breakfast scene where Oliver showcases his skills with a soft-boiled egg. Amidst light-hearted teasing about Elio's romantic pursuits, Professor Perlman invites Oliver on a trip to Sirmione, humorously insisting that Elio must remain silent. The scene captures a blend of self-reflection and humor, culminating in a sense of curiosity for the adventures ahead.
  • Elio cleans the Perlmans' car when Chiara arrives on her bike, asking about Oliver. Disappointed to learn they are leaving for Lake Garda, she shares a moment with Oliver before kissing him goodbye. Elio playfully comments on Chiara's beauty and hints at matchmaking, but Oliver prefers solitude. The tension escalates when Professor Perlman suggests Oliver sit in the front seat, shifting the dynamics among the characters.
  • Perlman drives through the Italian countryside with Oliver and Elio, who is captivated by Oliver. They arrive at the Grotte di Catullo, where Perlman shares his enthusiasm for the archaeological site. As they witness the recovery of a bronze statue of a boxer from Lake Garda, excitement and admiration fill the air, highlighting the beauty of the ancient artifact and the bond between the characters.
  • On the beach at Sirmione, Perlman shares the historical significance of a newly discovered bronze statue with Elio and Oliver, highlighting its connection to the Vatican. As the sun sets, they share light-hearted jokes about the statue's fate before enjoying a swim in the tranquil lake. Afterward, Elio expresses his urgency to leave, contrasting with Perlman and Oliver's desire to celebrate with a drink. The scene captures a blend of wonder and celebration against the backdrop of a picturesque evening.
  • In a cozy yet tense atmosphere at the Perlman villa during a thunderstorm, Oliver works late while Elio seeks connection with Marzia. The family gathers as the lights flicker, prompting Annelia to read from the Heptameron, exploring themes of love and courage. As the lights go out, discussions about youth and relationships unfold, with Annelia encouraging Elio to embrace risks in love. The scene culminates in a tender moment between mother and son, reinforcing their bond as the lights return.
  • The day after a storm, Elio finds himself lost in thought while playing the piano. He notices Oliver's bike is missing and, driven by longing, sneaks into Oliver's room through the bathroom. There, he intimately explores Oliver's belongings, particularly his bathing suit, which he smells and kisses. Seeking a connection to Oliver, Elio puts on the bathing suit and lies in his bed, but is interrupted by the sound of Oliver's bicycle. He quickly tidies up and exits the room, still grappling with his unspoken feelings.
  • Elio and Oliver share a contemplative moment under the trees at the Perlman villa, discussing a 16th-century French romance that reflects Elio's internal struggles. As they prepare to go into town, Elio accidentally spills lemonade, and Oliver's instinctive act of picking it up signifies his caring nature. Their interaction reveals a growing bond, marked by unspoken feelings and a sense of companionship as they decide to leave together.
  • In this light-hearted scene outside the Perlman villa, Oliver receives his repaired bike from Anchise and shows Elio a scrape on his hip, treated with an unusual remedy. Elio expresses concern about Anchise's character, questioning if he gives Oliver the creeps. Oliver reassures him, describing Anchise as a lost soul, which alleviates Elio's worries. The scene captures their camaraderie as they prepare to ride their bikes together.
  • In a quaint town square, Oliver and Elio share a moment of vulnerability as they discuss history and Elio's feelings of inadequacy. Oliver, taking on a mentor-like role, encourages Elio while grappling with his own emotions. Their conversation hints at deeper feelings, but tension arises as Elio confesses his self-doubt. The scene captures a blend of light-heartedness and emotional depth, culminating in Oliver asking Elio to wait while he resolves a mix-up, leaving their deeper conversation momentarily paused.
  • Elio and Oliver explore a picturesque country road, sharing laughter over a Mussolini picture before retreating to a tranquil spot by spring water ponds. In this serene setting, they delve into deep conversations about loneliness and their feelings for each other, leading to a tentative kiss. However, Oliver expresses a need for boundaries, creating tension as Elio's boldness clashes with Oliver's desire for propriety. The scene captures a blend of playful exploration and emotional vulnerability, ending with Oliver helping Elio up, symbolizing both care and the return to reality.
  • Elio and Oliver share a playful footsie moment during lunch at the Perlman villa, deepening their intimate bond amidst the pompous chatter of an art historian couple. However, Elio's joy turns to panic when he suddenly experiences a nosebleed, prompting him to leave the table in search of ice, highlighting his internal struggle with their impending separation.
  • In a vulnerable moment at the Perlman villa's bar, Elio tends to his bleeding nose while Oliver finds him and expresses concern. Their interaction deepens as Oliver massages Elio's feet, leading to a light-hearted conversation about their Jewish heritage and Elio's mother's views on discretion. Chiara and Marzia add a playful atmosphere, but the focus remains on the intimacy and care Oliver provides. The scene concludes with Oliver helping Elio to his feet and suggesting he rest on the couch, highlighting their growing connection.
  • In the Perlman villa's living room, Chiara playfully teases Elio about his 'peasant feet,' provoking a shy yet playful reaction from him. Marzia defends Elio, providing comfort amidst Chiara's competitive teasing. Elio expresses concern about his mother seeing him and asks about Oliver, but Chiara dismisses his inquiry. The scene captures a playful yet tense dynamic among the characters, ending with Elio swimming in the river, symbolizing a moment of freedom from the earlier tension.
  • Elio prepares a smoothie in the kitchen with the help of Mafalda, who is unfamiliar with the process. He takes the smoothie outside to join his mother, Annella, who encourages his feelings for Oliver. As they discuss Oliver, Elio grows anxious about his absence. Later, he waits for Oliver on the terrace, struggling to focus on a book. When Oliver finally arrives, Elio pretends to be asleep but feels betrayed when Oliver walks past his room without stopping, leaving him in disappointment.
  • In the garden of the Perlman villa, Elio arrives last, avoiding eye contact with Oliver, indicating tension. Oliver, weary, engages in a conversation with Perlman and Annella about his lifestyle choices, particularly his gambling and drinking habits. Perlman expresses concern for both Oliver and Elio, while Annella worries about Oliver's health and encourages him to rest. The scene concludes with Oliver agreeing to take it easy that night, alleviating Annella's concerns, as she offers him more coffee and reminds her son to sit up straight, reinforcing the familial atmosphere.
  • In a tense and awkward encounter on the Perlman Villa lawn, Elio attempts to connect with Oliver, who is absorbed in his work. Elio's restlessness prompts him to kick a volleyball at Oliver, breaking the silence and leading to a conversation about their previous night. While Elio expresses his desire to go into town and share his feelings, Oliver remains indifferent, highlighting their emotional disconnect. Perlman observes the interaction from his studio, adding a layer of parental oversight to the scene.
  • On the main entrance lawn of the Perlman Villa, Elio and Oliver share a heartfelt conversation about their relationship. Elio expresses a longing to spend time together again, reminiscing about a previous day, while acknowledging the passage of time. Oliver compliments Elio's wisdom and inquires about his feelings, leading Elio to fervently admit he worships him. This emotional exchange resolves Elio's hesitation, and Oliver agrees to meet in half an hour for a bike ride, requesting no formalities. The scene captures their deepening bond in a tender and introspective atmosphere.
  • In a picturesque setting by a fresh water spring in Crema, Italy, Elio and Oliver enjoy their carefree days together, filled with swimming and volleyball. Their connection deepens when Elio gifts Oliver a book he has written, symbolizing his affection. Despite the joy of their companionship, an underlying tension from Elio's feelings for Oliver remains unresolved. The scene captures a nostalgic and bittersweet tone, ending with Elio playfully reminding Oliver of their unspoken agreement to avoid speeches, hinting at the complexities of their relationship.
  • Elio and Oliver return from a ride, with Elio avoiding the turn to his home, signaling his inner conflict. At the Perlman villa, the family enjoys drinks as Oliver joins them, appearing refreshed and charismatic. They share light conversation about missing each other and Oliver's fondness for the villa, while Elio remains cautious and reserved. Anella expresses warmth towards Oliver, and Perlman encourages him to consider their home as his own. The scene is set against a sunset backdrop, highlighting the bittersweet emotional tension between Elio's unacknowledged feelings and Oliver's relaxed charm, leaving the emotional stakes unresolved.
  • After dinner, Elio feels restless and seeks connection, first gazing at Oliver's window and noticing a drying red bathing suit. He joins his parents in the living room but is distracted by the news and lights a cigarette. Elio then calls Marzia, inviting her out, and they agree to meet, indicating a shift in his focus from Oliver to her.
  • Elio and Marzia stroll through the enchanting streets of Crema at night, where Elio impulsively buys a book for her. Their conversation in French reveals Marzia's fears of emotional pain and Elio's struggle with vulnerability. A brief kiss ignites a passionate moment, leading them to explore each other's bodies in a secluded corner of Palazzo Premoli. The scene captures the romantic tension and vulnerability of young love, culminating in Marzia's poignant question about Elio's true feelings.
  • In this poignant scene, Elio and Marzia share a playful and intimate moment by the river at night, filled with laughter and love. As dawn breaks, Elio finds himself in a state of emotional turmoil, grappling with his feelings for Oliver while attempting to write a heartfelt note expressing his longing and anxiety over Oliver's silence. After several drafts, he finally pens a note that captures his need for communication, reflecting on his emotions as he smells his hands. The scene concludes with Elio slipping the note under Oliver's door, symbolizing his hope for connection amidst uncertainty.
  • In the garden of the Perlman villa during breakfast, Professor Perlman reads the newspaper while a sleepy Elio cracks an egg. Oliver joins them, casually asking Elio about his night, which Elio brushes off. Perlman hints at upcoming work with color slides from Berlin. The scene shifts to Elio's bedroom, where he discovers a note he wrote to Oliver, now with Oliver's addition urging him to grow up and meet at midnight. Overwhelmed, Elio kisses the note and realizes it's only 10:30 AM, leaving him excited yet anxious about their connection.
  • In Professor Perlman's study, Oliver and Perlman discuss the sensuality of Hellenistic sculptures, captivating Oliver with their stylistic differences. The scene shifts to a lunch under lime trees, where Annella reminds the group about dinner guests. Elio feels self-conscious about a large birthday shirt and seeks Oliver's opinion, but Oliver remains non-committal. Anxious about the time, Elio tries to hide his watch but ultimately runs upstairs, frustrated. The scene concludes with Oliver informing Mafalda that he won't be home for dinner, indicating a change in his plans.
  • Elio is awakened by Marzia's kiss at the abbeveratoio, leading to a playful and intimate moment between them. They decide to escape to the attic, where they share a romantic encounter on a mattress, illuminated by the soft afternoon light. As the scene concludes, Marzia leaves just before dinner, and Elio introduces her to arriving guests, a gay couple, marking a shift from their private intimacy to the social atmosphere of the villa.
  • In Elio's bedroom, his father, Perlman, encourages him to wear a Hawaiian shirt gifted by their guests, whom he playfully refers to as 'Laurel and Hardy.' Despite Elio's initial reluctance and teenage angst, Perlman teaches him about acceptance and maturity. The scene shifts to an outdoor table under lime trees, where Elio makes a lively entrance in the shirt, delighting their guests and marking a moment of familial connection and growth.
  • Elio performs a piano piece by Poulenc in the living room of the Perlman villa, captivating his audience, including the enigmatic Oliver. After the performance, Elio retreats to his bedroom, where he reflects on his identity and feelings for Oliver while writing in his journal. The scene captures Elio's internal struggle and longing, juxtaposed with Oliver's calm demeanor in his room. As Elio questions himself in the bathroom, the atmosphere is filled with introspection and curiosity, leaving him in contemplation about his emotions.
  • Elio, after hearing guests leave the Perlman villa, rushes to join Oliver on the balcony. They share a moment of vulnerability, both admitting their nervousness about their feelings for each other, creating an intimate connection amidst the tension of the night.
  • In Oliver's bedroom at the Perlman villa, Elio and Oliver share a tender and intimate moment. Initially hesitant, Elio moves closer to Oliver, leading to playful foot touching and a heartfelt hug. As they kiss passionately, they undress each other, experiencing a mix of pain and pleasure during their sexual encounter. This moment deepens their emotional connection, culminating in a shared sense of vulnerability. Afterward, Oliver comforts Elio, holding him as he falls asleep, encapsulating a sense of safety and intimacy.
  • As dawn breaks in Oliver's room, he cradles Elio, who wakes but avoids confronting the emotions from their intimate night. Oliver expresses concern for Elio's feelings, hinting at the need for discussion about their actions. Elio, while evasive, admits he didn't hate the experience, yet his smile suggests a wish for distance. After a moment of intimacy, Elio decides to shift their focus by suggesting they go swimming, indicating a desire to move forward despite lingering uncertainties.
  • In this scene, Oliver and Elio share a tense morning after a secretive encounter the night before. While swimming in the river, Elio feels distant from Oliver, who later asks if Elio will hold their previous night against him. Their awkward dynamic continues as they sneak into the villa, where Oliver surprises Elio in his room, leading to an off-screen sexual encounter that leaves Elio feeling uncomfortable. At breakfast with the Perlman family, Oliver subtly initiates physical contact with Elio, but the mood shifts as Oliver announces his plans to leave for town, heightening Elio's anxiety about Oliver's impending departure. The scene concludes with Elio feeling conflicted as he prepares to follow Oliver outside.
  • In the central square of Crema, Elio rushes to Oliver, expressing his desire to be close while Oliver reveals his fears about their relationship's emotional implications. Despite Elio's reassurances, uncertainty lingers between them. The scene transitions to a montage of life in the garden and a brief kitchen interaction between Mafalda and Anchise, before concluding with a tender moment between Elio and his mother as he picks peaches.
  • In the attic of the Perlman villa, Elio reflects on his intimate moment with Marzia while distracted by the summer sky and peaches. Engaging in a sexual act with a peach, he grapples with feelings of absurdity and shame before falling asleep. Oliver discovers him, leading to a playful yet intimate exchange where Oliver teases Elio about his actions. This moment of vulnerability culminates in a kiss, solidifying their emotional connection and commitment to each other.
  • At the Perlman villa, Elio and Oliver share an intimate conversation in the garden, grappling with their feelings and the pain of impending separation as Oliver prepares to return to the States. Elio expresses his anxiety and regrets about their time together, while Oliver reassures him of their bond. Meanwhile, Mafalda irons in the background, symbolizing domesticity, and Anchise works in a hut, contrasting the emotional turmoil of the young lovers. The Perlman parents, Perlman and Annella, listen to the conversation, acknowledging the depth of their son's relationship with Oliver. The scene is filled with a melancholic tone, highlighting longing and unspoken emotions amidst the warm light of the villa.
  • In this poignant scene, Elio dons Oliver's blue shirt, symbolizing his growing affection. At breakfast, he tenderly cracks an egg for Oliver, while their connection deepens with a subtle foot touch under the table. Elio faces tension with Marzia, who confronts him about his feelings, leaving her hurt and him speechless. By the pool, Elio expresses regret for Marzia's feelings, yet shares an intimate moment with Oliver. Perlman and Annella discuss Oliver's upcoming trip, adding humor that contrasts with Elio's emotional turmoil, highlighting the complexities of young love.
  • At dusk in front of the War World I Memorial in Pandino, Oliver and Elio, still in their swimsuits, share a playful yet intimate moment as they attempt to embrace the large monument. Their fingertips almost touch, but when Oliver leans in for a kiss, Elio pushes him away, insisting it's not the right place for such intimacy. They leave the memorial together on their bikes, observed by a young couple nearby, reflecting the innocence and complexity of young love.
  • Elio and Oliver share a playful and intimate moment in their hotel room before venturing into the lively streets of Bergamo. As they stumble through the night, their romantic connection is tested when Oliver kisses Elio but is distracted by a distant melody. At a small square, Oliver engages with a group of New Romantics, expressing his admiration for the band Psychedelic Furs, while Elio feels increasingly out of place. The scene culminates in Elio's unexpected vomiting, highlighting his discomfort amidst the carefree atmosphere.
  • In this emotionally charged scene, Oliver comforts Elio after a bout of vomiting, leading to a passionate kiss that defies the judgment of onlookers. Their intimacy deepens in the hotel room, but the mood shifts as Oliver prepares to leave for Rome. At the train station, he sings a heartfelt song that encapsulates their feelings, leaving Elio visibly affected as the train departs. Alone on the platform, Elio grapples with the pain of separation before calling his mother for a ride home.
  • Elio is driven back to the villa by Anella, visibly upset and crying over Oliver's departure. In the parked car, he encounters Marzia, who expresses her love and reassures him, leading to a heartfelt moment where they agree to remain friends. Upon returning to the villa, Elio briefly interacts with Anchise, who shares his sadness about Oliver, but Elio chooses to avoid further discussion, highlighting his emotional struggle with loss.
  • Elio confronts his anger upon learning from Mafalda that his room has been restored, leading him to reflect on his cherished memories with Oliver in the latter's former room. A heartfelt conversation with his father, Professor Perlman, follows, where they discuss the significance of Elio's relationship with Oliver and the importance of embracing emotions. Perlman shares his own regrets, fostering a deep understanding between father and son as they navigate themes of love, loss, and the passage of time.
  • Six months after their summer together, Elio wanders the foggy countryside, reflecting on his deep connection with Oliver. Upon returning to the Perlman villa, he receives a phone call from Oliver, who shares news of his potential marriage, leaving Elio feeling a mix of longing and sadness. As they discuss their feelings and the awareness of Elio's parents regarding their relationship, the scene shifts to the Perlman family evaluating new scholar applications, which Elio finds uninteresting. The emotional tension culminates as Elio prepares for a celebration dinner, lost in thought, before the scene fades to black.

Sequence by Sequence Summaries

Act-by-act sequence summaries

Act 1

  • Seq 1:

    Elio observes Oliver's arrival with jealousy, helps him settle into the villa, and attempts to engage him socially. He feels rebuffed when Oliver skips dinner and struggles with the older man's aloofness during breakfast. The sequence ends with Oliver joining the family the next morning, leaving Elio uncertain about their connection.

  • Seq 2:

    Elio offers to show Oliver around during breakfast, bikes with him to Crema for coffee, and shares Jewish identity discussions. He tries bonding through music—playing guitar and piano—but Oliver's critical gaze causes retreat. Elio's diary reflection reveals deepening insecurity, concluding the sequence with unresolved tension.

  • Seq 3:

    Elio accompanies Oliver to a café card game but feels ignored. During volleyball, Oliver's shoulder touch triggers Elio's retreat. At dinner, Elio vents frustration about Oliver's absence, then nearly approaches his room at night after playing piano for guests. The sequence ends with hesitation at Oliver's door.

  • Seq 4:

    Elio overhears Oliver's intellectual discussion with his father, shares quiet moments during manuscript reading and fruit-picking, and overcomes embarrassment when Oliver suggests swimming. Preparing for the river trip, Elio hands Oliver his belongings, showcasing budding intimacy. The sequence culminates with them leaving together.

  • Seq 5:

    At a dance, Elio watches Oliver flirt with Chiara, then dances with Marzia. They swim at night, share a hesitant kiss, and agree to meet secretly. This diversion provides temporary escape but underscores Elio's unresolved longing for Oliver.

  • Seq 6:

    After teasing Oliver about Marzia, Elio joins the trip to Lake Garda. They witness a statue salvage, discuss history, and swim together at sunset. The shared awe and playful banter deepen their connection before returning home.

  • Seq 7:

    During a storm, Annella reads a parable about romantic courage, urging Elio to 'do crazy things.' Inspired, he sneaks into Oliver's room, smells his clothes, and wears his bathing suit to bed—nearly caught when Oliver returns.

  • Seq 8:

    Discussing a knight's romantic dilemma, Elio bikes to town with Oliver. At the war memorial, he admits feeling inadequate about 'what matters'—hinting at his emotions. Oliver's interruption postpones resolution, but Elio's near-confession marks growth.

Act 2a

  • Seq 1:

    Elio initiates intimate moments with Oliver at secluded spots, sharing personal spaces and vulnerabilities. After a tentative kiss and Oliver's boundary-setting, their connection intensifies during a lunch flirtation (footsie), interrupted by Elio's nosebleed. Oliver finds him afterward, massaging his feet while bonding over shared heritage and discretion, creating mutual vulnerability.

  • Seq 2:

    Frustrated by Oliver's absence, Elio seeks advice from his mother and waits fruitlessly overnight. The next day, he confronts Oliver during work, expressing restlessness. After a heartfelt admission of worship during a vulnerable exchange, Oliver agrees to spend the day together. They bond through swimming, volleyball, and Elio gifting Oliver his manuscript, fulfilling the goal.

  • Seq 3:

    After returning from their outing, Oliver declines evening plans. Elio grows restless, observes Oliver's room, and impulsively invites Marzia for a distraction. They share intimacy in town, but Elio remains preoccupied. At dawn, he writes a raw, anxious note confessing his need for Oliver and slips it under his door.

Act 2b

  • Seq 1:

    Elio anxiously anticipates the midnight meeting after finding Oliver's note. Through daily interactions and distractions (including an encounter with Marzia), tension builds until they finally connect on the balcony. This culminates in their first intimate encounter in Oliver's room, resolving the goal with emotional and physical vulnerability.

  • Seq 2:

    Elio grapples with post-intimacy awkwardness, leading to vulnerable conversations and reaffirmations of their bond. After a tense swim and an unexpected encounter in Elio's room, they openly discuss fears in town. The sequence peaks in the attic where Oliver discovers Elio's vulnerability with the peach, culminating in a kiss that solidifies their mutual commitment.

  • Seq 3:

    Elio and Oliver navigate their dwindling time amid domestic routines and external interactions. They share intimate garden conversations overheard by parents, reconcile with Marzia, and embark on a trip to Bergamo. Their last night descends into drunken chaos before a tender hotel moment. The sequence concludes with Oliver's emotional train departure, shattering their summer idyll.

  • Seq 4:

    Elio collapses emotionally during the car ride home, receives unexpected comfort from Marzia who releases him from guilt, and withdraws from Anchise's sympathy. This isolated scene captures the raw onset of mourning as Elio begins confronting loss.

Act 3

  • Seq 1:

    Elio reacts angrily to the erasure of Oliver's presence when his room is restored, seeks solace in Oliver's former space to relive memories, and receives profound wisdom from his father about embracing pain as part of love. Professor Perlman validates Elio's feelings while sharing his own regrets, helping Elio begin to reframe his loss as a transformative experience rather than a wound.

  • Seq 2:

    Six months later, Elio wanders the foggy Italian landscape haunted by memories before receiving Oliver's phone call announcing his engagement. Their raw exchange confirms the relationship's end, with Elio voicing his longing while realizing his parents always understood their bond. His subsequent disinterest in replacing Oliver as the family's scholar and pensive preparation for dinner underscore his acceptance of this irreversible closure.

Visual Summary

Images and voice-over from your primary video

Final video assembled from the sections below.

Scene 1
Scene 1

In a picturesque Italian villa, 17-year-old Elio Perlman observes the arrival of Oliver, a charming 25-year-old American scholar. Elio's initial feelings of rivalry and jealousy are palpable as he refers to Oliver as 'the usurper.' This moment sets the stage for their complex relationship.

Scene 2
Scene 2

As Elio and Oliver spend time together, their bond deepens. Elio offers to share his room, and they engage in light-hearted conversations, revealing their personalities and interests.

Scene 8
Scene 8

Elio struggles with his feelings for Oliver, leading to moments of vulnerability. He practices music while Oliver listens, creating a tension-filled atmosphere as Elio seeks Oliver's approval.

Scene 29
Scene 29

In a secluded spot, Elio and Oliver share their first kiss, marking a pivotal moment in their relationship. However, Elio's hesitation reveals his fear of the implications of their intimacy.

Scene 57
Scene 57

As Oliver prepares to leave for Rome, Elio grapples with the impending separation. Their emotional farewell is filled with unspoken words and longing.

Scene 59
Scene 59

In the aftermath of Oliver's departure, Elio reflects on their time together, grappling with his feelings of longing and sadness. He shares a heartfelt conversation with his father about love and the importance of cherishing experiences.

Scene 60
Scene 60

Months later, Elio receives a phone call from Oliver, who shares news of his engagement. Elio's heart sinks as he grapples with the reality of their separation and the changes in their lives.

Scene 60
Scene 60

As Elio reflects on his summer with Oliver, he grapples with the question: Can love endure despite the passage of time and the inevitability of change?

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📊 Script Snapshot

8.50

What's Working

Emotional Impact 8.7
The emotional climax between Elio and Oliver, particularly their intimate moments, effectively captures the essence of first love and longing, resonat...
Premise 8.6
The exploration of Elio's internal struggles and emotional growth is compelling, setting up a rich narrative that resonates with audiences.

Where to Focus

Characters 8
The lack of a clear antagonist or opposing force diminishes the tension and stakes in the story, which could be addressed to enhance character engagem...
Theme 8.4
Some themes, such as the impact of societal expectations on personal identity, could be more explicitly addressed to enhance clarity.
Script-Level Scores

📊 Understanding Your Scores

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Characters
8.0
The screenplay effectively develops its characters, particularly Elio and Oliver, showcasing their emotional journeys an...

Analysis: The screenplay effectively develops its characters, particularly Elio and Oliver, showcasing their emotional journeys and complex relationships. However, there are opportunities to enhance the depth of secondary characters and their interactions to further enrich the narrative.

Key Strengths

  • Elio's emotional journey from confusion to acceptance of his feelings for Oliver is compelling and relatable, showcasing the complexities of first love.
  • Oliver's transformation from a distant figure to someone who embraces his emotions adds depth to his character and enhances the narrative's emotional impact.

Areas to Improve

  • The lack of a clear antagonist or opposing force diminishes the tension and stakes in the story, which could be addressed to enhance character engagement.
View Complete Analysis
Premise
8.6
The screenplay effectively establishes a compelling premise centered around the complex emotional journey of Elio and Ol...

Analysis: The screenplay effectively establishes a compelling premise centered around the complex emotional journey of Elio and Oliver, exploring themes of love, identity, and the bittersweet nature of first love. However, enhancing the clarity of character motivations and refining the emotional stakes could further engage the audience.

Key Strengths

  • The exploration of Elio's internal struggles and emotional growth is compelling, setting up a rich narrative that resonates with audiences.
View Complete Analysis
Structure
8.1
The screenplay effectively captures the emotional depth and complexity of Elio and Oliver's relationship, utilizing a st...

Analysis: The screenplay effectively captures the emotional depth and complexity of Elio and Oliver's relationship, utilizing a strong narrative structure that unfolds gradually to maintain audience engagement. However, there are areas where pacing could be refined, particularly in the middle sections, to enhance dramatic tension and character development.

Key Strengths

  • The emotional depth of Elio and Oliver's relationship is effectively portrayed, particularly in scenes where they confront their feelings for each other.
View Complete Analysis
Theme
8.4
The screenplay effectively conveys themes of love, identity, and the complexities of human relationships, particularly t...

Analysis: The screenplay effectively conveys themes of love, identity, and the complexities of human relationships, particularly through the lens of a summer romance. The emotional depth and character arcs resonate well with the audience, though there are opportunities to refine the clarity and integration of certain themes to enhance overall impact.

Key Strengths

  • The exploration of first love and the complexities of desire is portrayed with emotional depth, particularly through Elio's internal struggles and growth.

Areas to Improve

  • Some themes, such as the impact of societal expectations on personal identity, could be more explicitly addressed to enhance clarity.
View Complete Analysis
Visual Impact
7.6
The screenplay effectively captures the emotional depth and complexity of its characters through vivid and evocative vis...

Analysis: The screenplay effectively captures the emotional depth and complexity of its characters through vivid and evocative visual imagery. The descriptions of settings, interactions, and emotional moments create a rich tapestry that enhances the storytelling. However, there are opportunities to further enhance the visual storytelling by incorporating more dynamic imagery and symbolism.

Key Strengths

  • The vivid descriptions of the Italian countryside and the Perlman villa create a strong sense of place, enhancing the emotional landscape of the story. Scenes like the fruit orchard and the river are particularly evocative, immersing the reader in the beauty of the setting.
View Complete Analysis
Emotional Impact
8.7
The screenplay effectively elicits deep emotional responses through its rich character development and poignant storytel...

Analysis: The screenplay effectively elicits deep emotional responses through its rich character development and poignant storytelling. The complex relationships, particularly between Elio and Oliver, create a compelling emotional journey that resonates with the audience. However, there are opportunities to enhance emotional depth by further exploring the characters' internal conflicts and the consequences of their actions.

Key Strengths

  • The emotional climax between Elio and Oliver, particularly their intimate moments, effectively captures the essence of first love and longing, resonating deeply with the audience.
View Complete Analysis
Conflict
7.4
The screenplay effectively presents the internal and external conflicts faced by Elio and Oliver, particularly in the co...

Analysis: The screenplay effectively presents the internal and external conflicts faced by Elio and Oliver, particularly in the context of first love and self-discovery. However, there are opportunities to enhance narrative tension by deepening the stakes associated with their relationship and the consequences of their choices. The emotional stakes could be elevated through more pronounced external pressures and clearer consequences for their actions.

Key Strengths

  • The emotional depth of Elio's internal conflict regarding his feelings for Oliver is a significant strength, particularly in scenes where he grapples with jealousy and longing.
View Complete Analysis
Originality
8.6
The screenplay 'Call Me by Your Name' showcases a profound exploration of love and identity through its unique character...

Analysis: The screenplay 'Call Me by Your Name' showcases a profound exploration of love and identity through its unique characters and evocative setting. Its originality lies in the nuanced portrayal of a summer romance that transcends cultural boundaries, while its creative execution employs rich dialogue and sensory imagery to immerse the audience in the emotional landscape of the characters.

Expand to see detailed analysis

View Complete Analysis

Screenplay Story Analysis

Story Critique The screenplay boasts a strong foundation in its exploration of a complex, passionate relationship between two young men. The setting of the Italian villa provides a rich backdrop for the unfolding romance, enhancing the emotional depth of the story. The character development, particularly of Elio, is compelling; his internal struggles are palpable, making him a sympathetic and relatable protagonist. The incorporation of intellectual discussions and cultural details adds layers of depth and sophistication, enriching the overall narrative. However, the pacing sometimes feels uneven, with certain plot points lingering longer than necessary while others feel underdeveloped. The narrative occasionally loses focus, straying from the central relationship's progression. The subplot with Marzia, while adding complexity, sometimes detracts from the core emotional trajectory of Elio and Oliver's dynamic. The ending, while poignant, might benefit from a more conclusive resolution.
Suggestions:
  • Streamline the narrative, focusing more intensely on the central relationship between Elio and Oliver while subtly reducing the subplots.
  • Introduce a clear overarching conflict that drives the plot forward, perhaps related to external pressures or internal struggles within the relationship.
  • Develop a stronger sense of rising stakes, intensifying the emotional tension as the story progresses towards its climax.
  • Explore Oliver's character more deeply, providing greater insight into his motivations and internal conflicts.
  • Re-evaluate the ending to ensure a more satisfying conclusion, perhaps offering a more definitive resolution to the central relationship.

Note: This is the overall critique. For scene by scene critique click here
Beginning The opening scenes effectively establish the setting and introduce the key characters. The initial tension between Elio and Oliver is intriguing, immediately creating a sense of anticipation. The use of French adds a subtle layer of sophistication and complexity to the dialogue. However, the introduction feels somewhat slow, lacking a compelling hook that immediately grabs the audience's attention. The early scenes also lack a clear inciting incident that sets the story's central conflict in motion. While the introduction of the characters is adequate, there’s a lack of immediate understanding of their motivations and the stakes involved in their relationship.
Suggestions:
  • Begin the story with a more dramatic or emotionally charged scene to immediately engage the audience.
  • Introduce a clear inciting incident early on to establish the central conflict.
  • Develop the initial tension between Elio and Oliver more explicitly, making their conflict more immediate and understandable.
  • Provide more backstory for the characters, particularly Oliver, to provide the audience with a clearer understanding of their motivations.
Middle The middle section effectively develops the relationship between Elio and Oliver, showcasing both the intimacy and the tension between them. The incorporation of various social events and settings adds dynamism to the narrative. The intellectual conversations and cultural details add layers of complexity and richness. However, the pacing feels uneven in the middle; certain scenes drag while others feel rushed. The introduction of subplots, like Elio's relationship with Marzia, sometimes feels jarring and distracts from the central focus on Elio and Oliver. The narrative could benefit from a stronger sense of dramatic arc, with clearer rising action leading to a well-defined climax.
Suggestions:
  • Streamline the subplots, focusing more on their impact on the central relationship rather than on their own independent developments.
  • Create a more defined dramatic arc, with clearer rising action and a more impactful climax.
  • Develop the emotional tension between Elio and Oliver more consistently, ensuring a gradual build-up towards the climax.
  • Ensure a smoother integration of subplots, connecting them more directly to the central relationship's progression.
Ending The ending is poignant and bittersweet, reflecting the complexities of the relationship. The final scenes effectively capture the emotional weight of separation and the lingering feelings between Elio and Oliver. The phone call between Elio and Oliver provides a satisfying sense of closure. However, the ending might feel somewhat abrupt for some viewers. The resolution of Elio's relationship with Marzia feels somewhat underdeveloped. The final scenes showing the family at the villa feel somewhat inconsequential to the emotional journey of Elio and Oliver, and the final image might lack the symbolic weight necessary for a strong emotional conclusion.
Suggestions:
  • Extend the final scenes between Elio and Oliver, giving more emotional weight to their farewell.
  • Provide a more conclusive resolution to Elio's relationship with Marzia.
  • Create a more powerful and symbolic final image that encapsulates the themes of the story.
  • Consider adding a brief epilogue that hints at the characters' futures, offering a sense of lasting impact.

CharacterInconsistencies
  • Character Oliver
    Description The narrator's description of Oliver having three personalities based on his swimsuit color feels contrived and undermines Oliver's character development. It's a simplistic device to explain shifts in his behavior that could be better achieved through nuanced writing and consistent character portrayal.
    ( Scene 27   )
  • Character Elio
    Description Elio's actions in Scene 53 (sniffing and licking Oliver's discarded underwear) are jarring and feel out of character. While the film aims for realism, this action borders on obsessive and detracts from Elio's otherwise nuanced portrayal. A more subtle approach would be more effective in conveying Elio's longing.
    ( Scene 53   )
  • Character Elio
    Description Elio's masturbation with a peach in the attic is a shocking and arguably gratuitous scene that disrupts the film's overall tone. While exploring themes of sexuality and self-discovery, this specific act seems excessive and potentially detracts from the emotional impact of the story.
    ( Scene 116   )
StoryInconsistencies
  • Description The narration in Sequence 9 and 17 repeats the explanation of the Perlmans' summer guest program. This information is crucial early on, but repeating it later feels redundant and slows down the narrative.
    ( Scene 9   Scene 17   )
  • Description The narrator's sudden intrusion to explain the Professor's guest program disrupts the natural flow of the scene. This information could be integrated more subtly through dialogue or action.
    ( Scene 11   )
PlotHoles
DialogueAuthenticity
  • Description The dialogue feels slightly stilted in Sequence 10, particularly Oliver's overly formal language ("I know myself") in the context of a relaxed breakfast setting. The dialogue aims to create a certain dynamic, but it could be more natural.
    ( Scene 10   )
  • Description The extended dialogue between Elio and Marzia in French, while adding depth, might feel slightly verbose and less natural in its rhythm than other conversations in the film. Some streamlining could enhance pacing and realism.
    ( Scene 83   )
Redundancies
  • Element Repeated emphasis on the soft-boiled egg scene
    ( Scene 10   Scene 36   Scene 68   )
    Suggestion The recurring soft-boiled egg motif, used to illustrate Oliver's integration into the family and Elio's contrasting skill, could be streamlined. Perhaps focusing on one key scene would enhance its impact.
  • Element Multiple instances of language switching
    ( Scene 1   Scene 21   )
    Suggestion While the multilingual aspect is a feature of the film, the constant switching could be slightly more concise to avoid jarring the reader/viewer. Consider subtle shifts, instead of abrupt changes, between languages.


Elio - Score: 93/100

Role

Protagonist

Personality

MBTI: INFP
Enneagram: Type 4 - The Individualist

Scenes

Strongest: #34
Weakest: #19

Character Analysis Overview

Foundational Definition  9/10

Elio is an introspective teenager grappling with complex emotions.

Complexity And Depth  8/10

Elio's emotional complexities revolve around desire, fear of rejection, and vulnerability.

Arc Or Purposeful Stasis  9/10

Elio grows from a self-conscious teenager to a young man defined by a profound love experience.

Dialogue And Voice  8/10

Elio’s dialogue is marked by introspection, uncertainty, and emotional depth.

Behavior And Choices  9/10

Elio’s choices reflect a deep conflict between desire and fear of vulnerability.

Relationship Dynamics  10/10

Elio's relationships reveal his depth while showcasing his internal struggles with love.

Scene Impact  10/10

Elio's presence often sparks emotional tension and drives the narrative forward.

Role Fulfillment  10/10

Elio fulfills the role of a dynamic protagonist navigating love and self-discovery.

Thematic Plot Integration  10/10

Elio's journey interweaves personal growth with larger themes of love and loss.

Emotional Resonance  10/10

Elio's emotional journey resonates powerfully with the audience.

Foundational Definition
Score: 9
Elio is a 17-year-old boy living in Italy during the summer of 1983. His background is one rooted in a semi-intellectual family, given his father is a professor. He possesses a deep love for music and literature, which shapes his worldview as someone who experiences emotions intensely but struggles to express them. This foundational element drives much of his curiosity and desire for connection, particularly with Oliver, who symbolizes both attraction and the complexity of young, uncharted love.
Values And Beliefs: Music, literature, love, yearning for connection, exploration of identity.
Strengths And Skills: Musical talent, intellectual curiosity, emotional depth.
Suggestions
  • Explore Elio's character through scenes that highlight his relationship with music.
  • Further develop his emotional vulnerability in dialogues with Oliver.
Follow-up Questions
  • How does Elio's relationship with his parents influence his emotional struggles?
  • What role does music play in shaping his identity throughout the story?
Complexity And Depth
Score: 8
Elio bears the internal conflict of youthful desire that clashes with his fear of vulnerability. His emotional wound stems from the fear of rejection and not being understood, particularly in relation to Oliver. He also struggles with societal expectations regarding masculinity and love, causing him to oscillate between joy and pain.
Character Wound: Fear of unreciprocated love and emotional isolation.
Character Flaws: Insecurity, self-doubt, difficulty communicating feelings.
Suggestions
  • Include additional inner-monologues that showcase Elio's fears and aspirations.
  • Develop interactions with Marzia to explore his emotional fluctuations.
Follow-up Questions
  • How do Elio’s internal conflicts manifest in his interactions with Oliver?
  • What past experiences might have contributed to his emotional wounds?
Arc Or Purposeful Stasis
Score: 9
Throughout the story, Elio undergoes a significant transformation, evolving through his experiences with love and loss. His character shifts from being an insecure youth to someone deeply aware of his emotions, catalyzed by his relationship with Oliver. The end symbolizes a poignant moment of realization that love can be fleeting yet deeply impactful.
Polarity Changes: Elio experiences joy in new love juxtaposed with profound sadness when faced with separation.
Transformation Triggers: His relationship with Oliver sparks both transformation and emotional turmoil.
Suggestions
  • Emphasize key moments that signify Elio’s emotional growth.
  • Use visual motifs to represent his journey alongside Oliver.
Follow-up Questions
  • What specific moments mark the turning points in Elio’s character progression?
  • How does Elio’s perception of love change from the beginning to the end of the screenplay?
Dialogue And Voice
Score: 8
Elio's dialogue carries a poetic quality, intertwined with anxiety and longing. His speech often features literary references and a tendency to overthink conversations, which emphasizes his intellectual side while exposing his vulnerabilities. This dynamic creates a compelling contrast between his eloquence and emotional wavering.
Unique Voice: Elio’s speech often reflects his artistic interests and emotional turbulence, using a mix of Italian, French, and English that embodies his multicultural background.
Suggestions
  • Further diversify Elio's expressions to include more non-verbal cues.
  • Highlight his literary influences in dialogues to deepen his character portrayal.
Follow-up Questions
  • How does Elio use language to mask his true feelings?
  • In what ways does his choice of words influence his relationship with Oliver?
Behavior And Choices
Score: 9
Elio’s behavior is often reactive, influenced heavily by his emotions. Throughout the screenplay, his decisions—from connecting with Marzia to pursuing a more intimate relationship with Oliver—highlight his internal conflicts. His choices often showcase a pattern of hesitance followed by boldness as he explores his identity and desires.
Motivations: His motivations revolve around the desire for connection and the complexities of first love.
Desires Vs Needs: Externally, Elio desires acceptance and love from Oliver; internally, he needs to reconcile his feelings and fears of heartbreak.
Suggestions
  • Strengthen the representation of Elio's dilemmas through more ambiguous choices.
  • Include moments where Elio challenges his own fears in decisive actions.
Follow-up Questions
  • What key decisions most significantly affect Elio’s character development?
  • How might Elio behave differently if he were more confident in his feelings?
Relationship Dynamics
Score: 10
Elio's bond with his parents is both supportive and complex, characterized by open dialogues about emotions. His romantic connections with both Marzia and Oliver illustrate his emotional landscape—marked by confusion, longing, and the exploration of intimacy. Each relationship unveils facets of his character, highlighting his growth.
Suggestions
  • Develop the dynamics with supporting characters to enrich Elio's narrative.
  • Explore more nuances in Elio's relationship with Marzia post-Oliver.
Follow-up Questions
  • How do Elio's relationships with others serve as catalysts for his growth?
  • In what ways do Elio's interactions with his family influence his connections with others?
Scene Impact
Score: 10
Elio's actions and choices create significant ripple effects in each scene. Whether it’s through his romantic connections or personal struggles, his character introduces conflict, clarifies emotional stakes, and enriches the emotional tone. His interactions with Oliver serve as the emotional core of the screenplay, deeply influencing the story's trajectory.
Suggestions
  • Maximize emotional stakes in scenes by showcasing Elio's internal conflict visually.
  • Use Elio’s decisions to pivot scene directions and outcomes more distinctly.
Follow-up Questions
  • In what scenes does Elio's emotional presence feel most pronounced?
  • How does Elio’s influence shift the dynamics of ensemble scenes?
Role Fulfillment
Score: 10
As the protagonist, Elio’s character arc is pivotal, showcasing his transformation amid the exploration of love, identity, and vulnerability. His interactions and decisions shape the narrative, allowing him to be relatable and deeply human. Elio’s role encapsulates the themes of desire, awakening, and loss that permeate the screenplay.
Symbolic Role: Elio represents the journey of first love and the complexities it entails, embodying both innocence and emotional depth.
Suggestions
  • Emphasize Elio’s internal conflict in critical scenes to strengthen symbolic motifs.
  • Utilize contrasting moments to highlight his growth and role as a protagonist.
Follow-up Questions
  • How do Elio’s relationships contribute to his role in the narrative?
  • What symbolic themes could be further highlighted through Elio's character?
Thematic Plot Integration
Score: 10
Elio’s story arc illustrates significant themes of love, yearning, adolescence, and the bittersweet nature of memories. His experiences with Oliver serve as a microcosm of the universal exploration of first love—exceptional yet fleeting. Elio’s evolution mirrors the narrative's foundational themes, connecting personal growth with relatable existential questions.
Suggestions
  • Draw stronger parallels between Elio’s emotional experiences and the overarching themes.
  • Incorporate visual symbols that enhance thematic expression related to Elio’s growth.
Follow-up Questions
  • What are the central themes that Elio's journey emphasizes throughout the screenplay?
  • How could Elio's encounters with other characters further reinforce the story's themes?
Emotional Resonance
Score: 10
Elio's character resonates with audiences through his intense emotional exploration. His journey evokes a spectrum of feelings, from joy to heartbreak, creating a relatable narrative. The impact of his relationships and personal dilemmas invites viewers to reflect on their experiences of love and loss, amplifying the emotional stakes tied to his character.
Emotional Impact: Elio evokes profound empathy and nostalgia, representing the essence of young love.
Suggestions
  • Create additional layers of emotional depth by expanding Elio’s reflective moments.
  • Highlight pivotal emotional scenes to guide audience engagement.
Follow-up Questions
  • What specific scenes create the strongest emotional responses regarding Elio?
  • How can Elio’s present emotional state be contrasted with future reflections?
Personality Types
MBTI: infp

Elio's idealism, deep emotions, and introspective nature align with the traits of an INFP.

Confidence: 85%

Possible Alternative Type: intp (15%)

Suggestions
  • Consider Elio’s intuitive insights for character development and dialogue.
  • Integrate external conflicts against his idealistic nature for deeper narrative tension.
Follow-up Questions
  • How do Elio’s traits as an INFP manifest in his relationships?
  • What internal struggles does he face that align with the INFP type?
Enneagram: type 4 - the individualist

Elio’s emotional depth, longing for uniqueness, and personal expression are characteristic of Enneagram Type 4.

Confidence: 90%

Possible Alternative Type: type 5 - the investigator (10%)

Suggestions
  • Explore the complexity of Elio’s Type 4 traits in his resolve for authenticity.
  • Focus on his need for connection and understanding in his deepest relationships.
Follow-up Questions
  • How do Elio’s Type 4 characteristics influence his decisions throughout the narrative?
  • What fears or desires drive his Type 4 behaviors?

Key Scenes
Strongest Scene (34)

The scene where Elio and Oliver express their feelings for each other in a passionate kiss.

Why: This moment encapsulates the climax of their relationship and showcases Elio's emotional depth.

Weakest Scene (19)

Elio struggles during the volleyball match, feeling sidelined and overshadowed.

Why: This scene showcases his insecurities and reflects his fear of Oliver's attention being diverted.

    Suggestions:
  • Enhance his emotional turmoil by emphasizing his thoughts during this scene.
  • Create a stronger visual contrast between Elio and Oliver’s interactions.

Oliver - Score: 88/100

Role

Protagonist

Personality

MBTI: ENFP
Enneagram: Type 4 (Individualist)

Scenes

Strongest: #105
Weakest: #6

Character Analysis Overview

Foundational Definition  8/10

American intern with charm and complexity.

Complexity And Depth  9/10

Emotionally conflicted character with depth.

Arc Or Purposeful Stasis  8/10

Oliver’s journey of growth and vulnerability.

Dialogue And Voice  8/10

Distinctive voice that balances charm and uncertainty.

Behavior And Choices  9/10

Decisions driven by fear of emotional attachment.

Relationship Dynamics  9/10

Complex interplay of desire, fear, and emotional connection.

Scene Impact  9/10

Significant presence that drives emotional conflict.

Role Fulfillment  9/10

Embodiment of romantic longing and emotional complexity.

Thematic Plot Integration  9/10

Interweaving themes of love, identity, and self-discovery.

Emotional Resonance  10/10

Elicits deep emotional responses, forming strong audience bonds.

Foundational Definition
Score: 8
Oliver is a 25-year-old American graduate student who arrives at the Perlman villa for a six-week summer internship. He embodies a blend of charm, intellect, and a somewhat aloof attitude that makes him both appealing and intimidating to others, particularly to Elio. His early interactions show a mix of confidence and shyness, indicative of his struggle to navigate his own desires amidst the expectations of those around him. This duality sets the stage for his overall character arc and relationships throughout the narrative.
Values And Beliefs: Independence, love with no strings attached, spontaneity.
Strengths And Skills: Charismatic, quick-witted, knowledgeable about literature and philosophy.
Suggestions
  • Explore Oliver's background further to understand the roots of his charm and confidence.
  • Delve deeper into his academic aspirations to provide more context to his character.
Follow-up Questions
  • What personal events shaped Oliver into the character we see at the villa?
  • How does Oliver's academic background influence his attitude towards relationships?
Complexity And Depth
Score: 9
Oliver grapples with emotional complexity, particularly in his relationship with Elio. Despite his confident demeanor, he reveals vulnerability and confusion regarding his feelings and desires, especially when confronted with societal pressures. His reluctance to fully commit or display emotional depth stems from a fear of intimacy and the consequences that arise from it. This internal conflict tightens the emotional stakes of his relationships, especially with Elio, who represents both an attraction and a source of anxiety for him.
Character Wound: Fear of vulnerability and intimacy.
Character Flaws: Aloofness, emotional detachment, avoidance of commitments.
Suggestions
  • Create scenes where Oliver faces situations that challenge his emotional detachment.
  • Introduce a moment where Oliver reflects deeply on his feelings to show his internal struggle.
Follow-up Questions
  • How do Oliver's past relationships inform his current behaviors?
  • What does Oliver fear losing if he truly opens up to Elio?
Arc Or Purposeful Stasis
Score: 8
Throughout the screenplay, Oliver transitions from a more guarded character to one willing to embrace vulnerability and intimacy. Early on, he approaches relationships with a detached charm but gradually allows himself to engage on a deeper emotional level through his bond with Elio. His willingness to act on his desires, despite the fear of repercussions, signifies a significant shift in his character, highlighting a theme of love versus fear.
Polarity Changes: Development of deeper emotional connections with Elio; avoidance to acceptance of feelings.
Transformation Triggers: Key conversations with Elio that challenge his emotional walls.
Suggestions
  • Enhance his character arc by incorporating moments of hesitation mixed with impulsive decisions.
  • Add more conversations where Oliver's emotional state is revealed in contrast to his outward demeanor.
Follow-up Questions
  • What specific events cause Oliver to start expressing his emotions?
  • How does he reconcile his feelings for Elio with his fear of commitment?
Dialogue And Voice
Score: 8
Oliver’s dialogue reflects a blend of charm and intellect with a touch of humor that masks his insecurities. His ability to engage in deep philosophical discussions reveals a scholarly side, yet his flirtatious banter with Elio displays a playful confidence. His voice evolves as he allows more emotion to seep into his words, creating a richer tapestry of expression that denotes his changing relationship with Elio.
Unique Voice: Humorous, intellectual, occasionally evasive.
Suggestions
  • Incorporate more philosophical discussions that reveal the character's inner conflicts and thoughts.
  • Show changes in Oliver’s tone as he becomes more comfortable with his feelings for Elio.
Follow-up Questions
  • What are some past conversations that reflect Oliver's evolving feelings?
  • How does his tone change when he interacts with different characters?
Behavior And Choices
Score: 9
Throughout the screenplay, Oliver often grapples with his motivations, leading to choices that both engage and distance him from others. His initial attitude towards relationships is one of detachment, preferring to maintain distance due to fears of commitment. Yet, as he grows closer to Elio, he faces situations where his choices directly impact his emotional wellbeing. This dichotomy creates tension that propels the narrative forward.
Motivations: Desire for connection versus fear of vulnerability.
Desires Vs Needs: Desires casual relationships while needing deeper emotional connections.
Suggestions
  • Show more internal dialogue that reveals Oliver's real-time conflict when making decisions.
  • Create moments where Oliver chooses to confront situations instead of sidestepping them.
Follow-up Questions
  • What pivotal moments lead Oliver to take risks with his emotions?
  • How do his choices impact his relationship with Elio in the long run?
Relationship Dynamics
Score: 9
Oliver’s relationships, particularly with Elio, are the heart of the story. His dynamic with Elio is marked by an initial spark that gives way to emotional tension as they try to navigate their feelings together. Oliver’s hesitance speaks volumes of his deeper fears, and each interaction illuminates the push and pull between desire and fear of vulnerability. This relationship serves to establish the emotional core of the narrative, making it both compelling and relatable.
Suggestions
  • Highlight moments of tension in Oliver and Elio's interactions to portray his conflicting emotions.
  • Incorporate reactions from other characters that reflect their perspectives on Oliver’s actions.
Follow-up Questions
  • How do Oliver's existing relationships influence his bond with Elio?
  • What aspects of their connection do you think push Oliver towards greater vulnerability?
Scene Impact
Score: 9
Oliver’s presence in scenes is often palpable, introducing conflict and a charged atmosphere. His interactions with Elio elicit a spectrum of emotions, from excitement to anxiety. Whether in quiet moments of intimacy or charged exchanges, he plays a significant role in steering the emotional tone of each scene. This impact is heightened by his evolution, shifting from a charming yet distant figure to one of emotional openness as the narrative unfolds.
Suggestions
  • Adjust scenes where Oliver must face the consequences of his decisions to maximize emotional stakes.
  • Introduce moments that juxtapose his earlier behavior with his current openness to deepen scene impact.
Follow-up Questions
  • In which scenes does Oliver's emotional presence most strongly alter the mood?
  • How would the scenes differ if Oliver were written with a different emotional state?
Role Fulfillment
Score: 9
As the central romantic figure, Oliver embodies both desire and complexity in the narrative. His role underscores themes of love, longing, and the challenge of vulnerability. His journey symbolizes the highs and lows of a summer romance, serving as both a catalyst for Elio’s growth and a reflection of the struggles inherent in personal connection. His presence enriches the plot significantly, making his narrative arc key to the overall story.
Symbolic Role: The romantic interest representing desire and hindrance.
Suggestions
  • Employ symbolic motifs aligned with Oliver’s emotional state to enhance his narrative significance.
  • Subvert the expectations surrounding his character type to deepen his role.
Follow-up Questions
  • How does Oliver's character challenge or conform to typical romantic tropes?
  • What lessons from Oliver's role do you think resonate most deeply with the audience?
Thematic Plot Integration
Score: 9
Oliver’s journey integrates seamlessly with the screenplay’s broader themes of love, identity, and the complexity of human connection. His character embodies the tension between societal expectations and personal desires, echoing the narrative’s exploration of what it means to love deeply and authentically. His decisions and transformations amplify the story's key themes, effectively driving the plot forward while revealing character depth and vulnerability.
Suggestions
  • Embellish scenes that juxtapose Oliver’s inner conflict with the overarching themes to deepen thematic resonance.
  • Draw connections between Oliver’s experiences and societal expectations to enhance thematic engagement.
Follow-up Questions
  • In what ways do you think Oliver’s experiences challenge societal norms?
  • How does Oliver’s character journey reflect or counter the overarching themes of the screenplay?
Emotional Resonance
Score: 10
Oliver creates a complex emotional response in the audience, evoking sympathy, tension, and moments of profound longing. His journey alongside Elio resonates deeply with viewers, making the fleeting nature of their summer romance feel significant and heartbreaking. The emotional beats tied to Oliver, especially in moments of vulnerability and connection, serve to engage the audience thoroughly and amplify the thematic weight of the narrative.
Emotional Impact: Profound attachment and longing; emotional tension and release.
Suggestions
  • Highlight subtle moments of vulnerability in Oliver to deepen audience connection.
  • Craft scenes that emphasize the fleeting yet impactful nature of Oliver's bond with Elio.
Follow-up Questions
  • What specific moments in Oliver's journey do you find most emotionally impactful?
  • How does Oliver’s emotional journey differ from or complement Elio’s?
Personality Types
MBTI: enfp

Oliver exhibits characteristics associated with ENFPs, including charm, enthusiasm for new experiences, and emotional depth.

Confidence: 85%

Possible Alternative Type: infj (75%)

Suggestions
  • Highlight his extroverted qualities more prominently in social interactions.
  • Explore moments of introspection that could reveal a thoughtful side.
Follow-up Questions
  • How do Oliver's unvoiced thoughts contrast with his outward persona?
  • In which scenes does his extroversion clash with any underlying insecurities?
Enneagram: type 4 (individualist)

As a character in search of authenticity and identity, Oliver exemplifies traits of the Type 4, often feeling different or misunderstood.

Confidence: 70%

Possible Alternative Type: type 3 (achiever) (60%)

Suggestions
  • Create scenarios that explore his sense of individuality deeply.
  • Show how his desire for authenticity might clash with societal expectations.
Follow-up Questions
  • In what ways does Oliver express his individuality throughout the story?
  • How does his perceived uniqueness impact his relationships with others?

Key Scenes
Strongest Scene (105)

The intimate scene in Oliver's room where they share their first kiss, marking a turning point in their relationship.

Why: This scene illustrates Oliver's emotional vulnerability juxtaposed against his initial aloof behavior, showcasing character development.

Weakest Scene (6)

In the breakfast scene, Oliver appears detached and nonchalant, impacting his interactions with Elio.

Why: This moment does not showcase Oliver's charm or complexity, which are vital for audience engagement.

    Suggestions:
  • Add elements that show Oliver's growing connection to Elio, even in mundane scenes like breakfast.
  • Incorporate more playful banter that reveals emotional undercurrents.

Perlman - Score: 78/100

Role

Mentor

Personality

MBTI: INFJ
Enneagram: Type 2 (The Helper)

Scenes

Strongest: #141
Weakest: #12

Character Analysis Overview

Foundational Definition  8/10

Warm and nurturing mentor, guiding his family and guests.

Complexity And Depth  7/10

Hiding emotional scars beneath mentorship, exemplifying internal conflict.

Arc Or Purposeful Stasis  6/10

Maintains stability but encourages growth in others without significantly changing himself.

Dialogue And Voice  8/10

Intellectual and compassionate, with a tone that emphasizes teaching and wisdom.

Behavior And Choices  7/10

Acts as a steady presence, guiding through wisdom rather than strictness.

Relationship Dynamics  8/10

Caring father-son relationship, but also a mentor to Oliver.

Scene Impact  8/10

A stabilizing force during pivotal emotional scenes.

Role Fulfillment  9/10

Guiding mentor fulfilling the role of both father and educator.

Thematic Plot Integration  9/10

Integral to the exploration of love, knowledge, and generational gaps.

Emotional Resonance  8/10

Evokes feelings of empathy and admiration.

Foundational Definition
Score: 8
Professor Perlman is a distinguished academic who embodies values of knowledge, culture, and open-mindedness. His role as the head of the household makes him a guiding figure for Elio and Oliver, establishing a nurturing environment filled with intellectual curiosity. Perlman’s character is crucial as he balances the academic pressures of his guest, Oliver, with familial warmth, which allows for the exploration of deeper themes such as acceptance and love.
Values And Beliefs: Knowledge, cultural appreciation, familial love.
Strengths And Skills: Exceptional educator, supportive father, emotionally intelligent.
Suggestions
  • Highlight more of Perlman's backstory to deepen his influence on Elio.
  • Show Perlman discussing personal losses or triumphs to enrich his character depth.
Follow-up Questions
  • What specific experiences led Perlman to value knowledge so deeply?
  • How does Perlman's relationship with Oliver shape Elio's view of love?
Complexity And Depth
Score: 7
Perlman may appear confident and wise, but his character holds deeper emotional layers that hint at his own missed chances at love during his youth. This internal conflict emphasizes the importance of allowing his son to express his feelings freely, reflecting his own life's lessons.
Character Wound: Missed opportunities for love in his own youth.
Character Flaws: May be overly protective or unintentionally intrusive.
Suggestions
  • Integrate moments where Perlman's past influences his parenting style.
  • Show his vulnerabilities more explicitly in conversations with Elio.
Follow-up Questions
  • What regrets does Perlman have regarding his youthful love?
  • How does his experience affect his ability to guide Elio and Oliver?
Arc Or Purposeful Stasis
Score: 6
Throughout the story, Perlman remains consistent as a supportive father and mentor, yet the experiences of Elio and Oliver push him to reflect on his own past, making his character a reassuring presence despite the nuanced emotional landscape around him.
Polarity Changes: Perlman navigates from being a distanced observer to an engaged mentor.
Transformation Triggers: Elio's experiences and feelings draw Perlman out, prompting him to share wisdom.
Suggestions
  • Explore significant events that cause Perlman to reflect on his own choices.
  • Show more interaction with Elio that highlights moments of growth for both.
Follow-up Questions
  • What specific interactions with Elio influence Perlman's perspective on youth and love?
  • Are there moments where Perlman regrets potentially limiting his son's experiences?
Dialogue And Voice
Score: 8
Perlman's dialogue often serves dual purposes: to educate and to provide emotional support. His conversations with Elio are laced with reflections that resonate with the broader themes of the screenplay, and his voice establishes a contrast with younger, more impulsive characters.
Unique Voice: Articulate and thoughtful, often conveying deeper ideas about life and love.
Suggestions
  • Enhance Perlman's dialogues to reveal more of his emotional history.
  • Incorporate more informal moments to show his warmth outside of academia.
Follow-up Questions
  • What tone does Perlman adopt when discussing sensitive topics like love and loss?
  • How does Perlman's interaction style change during moments of emotional tension?
Behavior And Choices
Score: 7
Perlman's actions stem from a deep-seated desire to protect his family while encouraging Elio to seek his own path. However, he occasionally struggles with how much to intervene, which reflects his caring yet overprotective nature.
Motivations: Support his family and foster a nurturing environment.
Desires Vs Needs: Desires to teach and guide, but needs to release control over his son’s emotional journey.
Suggestions
  • Add scenes showcasing moments where Perlman must balance teaching with letting go.
  • Show how Perlman reacts to Oliver's influence on Elio more vividly.
Follow-up Questions
  • What situations cause Perlman to second-guess his protective instincts?
  • How does Perlman respond to moments of resistance from Elio?
Relationship Dynamics
Score: 8
Perlman’s relationships with Elio and Oliver provide rich ground for exploring themes of mentorship, familial bonds, and the complexity of love. His dynamic with Elio is built on trust and guidance, while with Oliver, he embodies professional admiration that underscores character connection.
Suggestions
  • Flesh out Perlman's interactions with Oliver to amplify mentorship themes.
  • Include more reflective moments between Perlman and Elio that delve into father-son dynamics.
Follow-up Questions
  • How does Perlman's relationship with Oliver impact Elio's feelings towards both his father and Oliver?
  • Are there instances where Perlman recognizes the love developing between Elio and Oliver?
Scene Impact
Score: 8
Perlman's presence serves as a grounding influence, offering wisdom and emotional insight during critical moments in the storyline. His interactions often create space for other characters to explore their tensions and fears.
Suggestions
  • Maximize Perlman's tension-release moments to enhance emotional stakes in scenes.
  • Use Perlman's actions to juxtapose younger characters' decisions more poignantly.
Follow-up Questions
  • How does Perlman’s involvement change the emotional trajectory of key scenes?
  • What would happen in pivotal moments without Perlman's influence nearby?
Role Fulfillment
Score: 9
Perlman effectively fulfills the role of mentor throughout the screenplay, embodying the archetype of the wise elder who facilitates the growth of the younger capable folk, primarily through his teachings and emotional support.
Symbolic Role: Symbol of generational wisdom and experience.
Suggestions
  • Emphasize Perlman's guiding nature in speeches to Elio that reinforce his symbolic role.
  • Include more dynamic interactions with other characters for a richer portrayal of his archetypal role.
Follow-up Questions
  • In what ways does Perlman subvert typical mentor roles in narratives?
  • Could Perlman's wisdom also present flaws that challenge his mentor status?
Thematic Plot Integration
Score: 9
Perlman's character arc intertwines with central themes of love and acceptance, highlighting the contrasts between youth and experience. His guidance shapes Elio's understanding of love, inevitably affecting his choices and growth.
Suggestions
  • Clarify Perlman's influences on Elio's understanding of love in pivotal moments.
  • Strengthen connections between Perlman's lessons and Elio's choices.
Follow-up Questions
  • How does Perlman's mentorship mirror or contrast with the primary love story?
  • What do Perlman's philosophies reveal about the overarching narrative themes?
Emotional Resonance
Score: 8
Perlman’s character engages audiences significantly through his blend of wisdom, emotional support, and undeniable humanity. His relationship with Elio showcases poignant moments of realization about love and acceptance.
Emotional Impact: An impactful character who invokes a mix of admiration and empathy.
Suggestions
  • Capitalize on Perlman's emotional moments to deepen audience connection.
  • Use Perlman's dialogues to accentuate moments where emotional truths unfold.
Follow-up Questions
  • What specific lines or actions can heighten the emotional weight of Perlman's character?
  • How can Perlman’s actions in moments of vulnerability enhance audience engagement?
Personality Types
MBTI: infj

Perlman embodies the nurturing, introspective, and insightful traits typical of an INFJ, as he seeks harmony and understanding in relationships.

Confidence: 85%

Possible Alternative Type: enfj (60%)

Suggestions
  • Highlight more situations in which Perlman demonstrates intuitive understanding or conflict resolution.
  • Enhance interactions that show both the introverted and extroverted sides of his personality.
Follow-up Questions
  • How does Perlman's counseling approach vary depending on whether he interacts with Elio or Oliver?
  • In what ways could Perlman's character benefit from more extroverted moments?
Enneagram: type 2 (the helper)

Perlman displays Helper traits through his nurturing behavior and desire to assist both Elio and Oliver on their personal journeys.

Confidence: 75%

Possible Alternative Type: type 9 (the peacemaker) (65%)

Suggestions
  • Incorporate moments where Perlman prioritizes others’ needs over his own to highlight his Type 2 tendencies.
  • Examine his reactions in conflict situations to reveal Type 9 characteristics more prominently.
Follow-up Questions
  • How do Perlman's helping behaviors complicate or assist Elio’s emotional growth?
  • What moments showcase Perlman's tendency toward enmeshment with those he helps?

Key Scenes
Strongest Scene (141)

In the scene where Perlman has a heartfelt conversation with Elio about love and pain, he showcases his wisdom.

Why: This stands out due to its emotional weight and depth, revealing Perlman’s character and depth of understanding.

Weakest Scene (12)

A weaker scene occurs during the dinner with guests where Perlman does not serve as prominently and feels overshadowed.

Why: This scene lacks Perlman's direct emotional engagement which can dilute his impactful presence.

    Suggestions:
  • Increase Perlman's interactions during this scene to maintain his vital role.
  • Provide him with an impactful line that brings focus back to his influence
Theme Analysis Overview
Primary Theme: First love and its complexities, particularly the intensity, insecurity, and bittersweet transience of a summer romance.
Theme Interaction: Several themes intertwine to enrich the primary theme. The themes of cultural difference and class, parental influence, and self-discovery all contribute to the nuances of Elio and Oliver's relationship. While these themes are significant, they ultimately serve to deepen and complicate the central narrative of first love, rather than overshadowing it. The cultural and class differences create tension and unspoken anxieties. Parental influence shapes Elio's reactions and behaviors. The journey of self-discovery intensifies the emotional weight of the romance and gives it a lasting resonance beyond the summer's end.

Identified Themes

Theme Theme Details Theme Explanation Primary Theme Support
First Love and its Complexities
60%
The central focus is on Elio's intense, confusing, and ultimately heartbreaking first love for Oliver. The narrative follows the emotional arc of their relationship, from initial attraction and burgeoning intimacy to the inevitable parting and its lingering effects.
 The theme explores the overwhelming emotions, insecurities, and uncertainties inherent in first love. It highlights the intoxicating blend of desire, joy, pain, and self-discovery that defines this formative experience. The film uses the brevity of summer as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of this specific type of romance, while emphasizing the lasting impact of it on Elio's emotional and personal growth.
This is the core theme around which all other themes revolve. The other themes provide context, adding layers of complexity to the emotional core of the story.
Strengthening First Love and its Complexities
Suggestion Type How to Strengthen the Theme
Dialogue Scene Multiple Intersperse subtle, emotionally charged dialogues between Elio and Oliver that hint at the complexities of their first love. For example, conversations about fear of vulnerability, the fleeting nature of summer romance, and the anxieties of unspoken feelings. These should be woven organically into existing conversations, not as forced monologues, but as small, meaningful exchanges that reveal their inner turmoil and the unspoken desires underlying their interactions.
Visual Scene Multiple Employ visual motifs to emphasize the theme. Recurring imagery, like the apricots (symbolizing sweetness and fleetingness), the changing colors of Oliver's bathing suits (representing his different personalities and emotional states), or the contrast between the vibrant summer setting and the melancholic tone of Elio’s internal struggles, will visually reinforce the theme’s complexities across the film.
Character Arc Scene Elio Develop Elio's character arc to reflect the full spectrum of first love. Show him moving beyond initial infatuation and jealousy to a deeper understanding of his own emotions, including his insecurities, vulnerabilities, and the pain of unrequited or complicated love. His journey shouldn't just be about Oliver; it should be about his self-discovery through this experience.
Story Arc Scene Multiple Structure the narrative to mirror the ebb and flow of first love. Include moments of intense connection interspersed with periods of distance, doubt, and uncertainty, reflecting the inherent instability and complexities of young love. The narrative should not only focus on the romantic connection but also showcase the wider impact of the experience on Elio's relationships with his family and friends.
Action & Subtext Scene Multiple Use subtext and meaningful actions to convey the emotional undercurrents of the relationship. Small gestures, like a lingering touch, an averted gaze, or a stolen glance, can speak volumes about the unspoken feelings and anxieties that define first love. Pay attention to the physical interactions between Elio and Oliver – not just the explicit moments, but the subtle ways they communicate through body language and non-verbal cues. This will create a more nuanced and emotionally resonant portrayal of their relationship.
Self-Discovery and Identity
25%
Elio's journey of self-discovery is intertwined with his relationship with Oliver. He grapples with his sexuality, his emotions, and his place in the world. His interactions with Marzia and his own introspective moments throughout the story highlight this process.
 The film explores how the experience of first love forces Elio to confront his own identity and feelings. His reactions and insecurities reveal his journey towards a deeper understanding of himself and the world around him.
This theme directly supports the primary theme by providing crucial insight into Elio's emotional responses to his love for Oliver. The self-discovery is fundamentally shaped and catalyzed by this relationship.
Cultural and Class Differences
10%
Oliver's American background and his more worldly demeanor create a subtle tension and unspoken anxieties in his relationship with Elio, who is immersed in the Italian environment and his family's traditions.
 The differences in cultural backgrounds and social standing influence the dynamics of their interaction. These differences contribute to the unspoken anxieties and uncertainties that underlie their romance.
This theme adds layers of complexity to the relationship, highlighting the challenges and misunderstandings that can arise from such differences. It subtly impacts the way both characters interact and communicate, adding to the overall emotional resonance.
Parental Influence and Observation
5%
Elio's parents, particularly his mother, observe and comment on the relationship. Their presence and reactions shape Elio's experience and the overall atmosphere.
 The parents act as observant figures, adding a layer of commentary and indirect guidance to Elio's journey. Their subtle understanding of the dynamics and their approach influences Elio's self-awareness.
The parental perspectives provide a contrasting viewpoint to Elio's intense emotional journey. Their involvement underscores the complexities of first love within a family context, adding a dimension of societal expectations and unspoken anxieties.

Screenwriting Resources on Themes

Articles
Site Description
Studio Binder Movie Themes: Examples of Common Themes for Screenwriters
Coverfly Improving your Screenplay's theme
John August Writing from Theme
YouTube Videos
Title Description
Story, Plot, Genre, Theme - Screenwriting Basics Screenwriting basics - beginner video
What is theme Discussion on ways to layer theme into a screenplay.
Thematic Mistakes You're Making in Your Script Common Theme mistakes and Philosophical Conflicts








Scene by Scene Emotions



Goals and Philosophical Conflict
internal Goals The protagonist's internal goals evolve from a desire for connection and understanding to grappling with feelings of love and jealousy regarding Oliver. Initially, Elio seeks hospitality and friendship but ultimately strives for emotional intimacy and affirmation of his identity amidst societal expectations.
External Goals The protagonist's external goals shift from helping Oliver adjust to his new environment to pursuing moments of shared experience and connection, culminating in Elio's desire to maintain a relationship with Oliver despite the looming separation.
Philosophical Conflict The overarching philosophical conflict revolves around the tension between self-acceptance and societal expectations of relationships and identity during a period of cultural conservatism. This conflict intertwines with Elio's journey as he navigates love and desire in a repressive environment.


Character Development Contribution: The progression of Elio's internal and external goals contributes significantly to his character development, showcasing his evolution from a youth grappling with confusion about his identity and desires to a more self-aware individual who ultimately embraces and communicates his emotions.

Narrative Structure Contribution: The interplay of internal goals and external actions drives the narrative structure, creating a compelling arc as Elio's experiences progress from uncertainty to empowerment, all while advancing the plot through his interactions with both Oliver and other characters.

Thematic Depth Contribution: The juxtaposition of goals and conflicts deepens the screenplay's themes, such as love, identity, longing, and the impact of societal norms, illustrating the complexities of personal relationships alongside the coming-of-age experience.

Screenwriting Resources on Goals and Philosophical Conflict

Articles

Site Description
Creative Screenwriting How Important Is A Character’s Goal?
Studio Binder What is Conflict in a Story? A Quick Reminder of the Purpose of Conflict

YouTube Videos

Title Description
How I Build a Story's Philosophical Conflict How do you build philosophical conflict into your story? Where do you start? And how do you develop it into your characters and their external actions. Today I’m going to break this all down and make it fully clear in this episode.
Endings: The Good, the Bad, and the Insanely Great By Michael Arndt: I put this lecture together in 2006, when I started work at Pixar on Toy Story 3. It looks at how to write an "insanely great" ending, using Star Wars, The Graduate, and Little Miss Sunshine as examples. 90 minutes
Tips for Writing Effective Character Goals By Jessica Brody (Save the Cat!): Writing character goals is one of the most important jobs of any novelist. But are your character's goals...mushy?

Scene Analysis

All 60 scenes
160

29 holding · 26 need a polish · 3 need work · 2 read low on their own

“Holding up” means we would leave the scene as it is.“Needs a polish” means the scene works, but another pass would make it better.“Needs real work” means the scene needs real work before it earns its place.“Doesn't stand up on its own” means read on its own, the scene doesn’t hold up.

Start here

Of the 60 scenes we read, this is the one carrying the most — so a rewrite here is worth more than a rewrite anywhere else.

What isn't working

Orientation scene stalls; no turn, low pressure, weak grip.

What to keep while you rewrite it

Whatever you change, try not to lose these:

  • Clear visual of the cafe's liveliness
  • Oliver's 'common touch' is established efficiently
  • The wink and 'Thanks, Buddy!' add a touch of charm

4 other scenes need real work too — they're in the table below.

Craft tips, from your own scenes

We ask every scene the same set of craft questions. These are the ones your scenes answered most differently — one at a time, so you can take them at your own pace.

Movement

Does the scene turn — is something different by the end?

Where it slips

Movement is absent: there's no turn attempted. The scene is a static tableau—Oliver plays cards, Elio watches—and nothing shifts. The reader may feel the scene is a placeholder, not a step in the story.

Where you already do it

Movement is exceptional: the scene flows from physical space (staircase, Oliver's room, studio) to the conversation, which itself has a rhythm of evasion, interruption, confession, and a final question ('Does mother know?') that circles back to the domestic. The arc is a perfect emotional curve. Any revision that reorders or cuts beats could flatten this arc.

Tip 1 of 6

Development

Has anything deepened by the end?

Where it slips

Development is non-existent: the scene starts with Oliver joining the game and ends with him playing, with no change in Elio's position or the relationship. The scene is a flat line, offering no progression for either character.

Where you already do it

Development is strong: Elio moves from anger at Mafalda to sorrow in his old room to evasive silence with his father, and the father's monologue reveals a depth of understanding that recontextualizes the entire relationship. The growth is internal and earned.

Tip 2 of 6

Charge

Does a feeling actually come off the page?

Where it slips

The scene has low emotional charge. The usurper line hints at tension, but the scene observes rather than immerses—the reader may feel like a spectator watching a polite arrival rather than feeling Elio's anticipation or anxiety. The handshake lands with no spark.

“They shake hands. ELIO: I'm Elio. OLIVER: (non committal) Hi.”
Where you already do it

Charge is exceptional: the scene carries immense emotional weight. The father's confession—'I envy you'—is a moment of rare vulnerability that elevates the entire story. The charge is so high that any revision that reduces the father's speech or alters its tone risks diminishing the scene's emotional impact.

“I may have come close, but I never had what you two had.”
Tip 3 of 6

Grip

Does the scene make you want the next one?

Where it slips

Grip is weak: the scene doesn't pull the reader forward. There's no question, no tension, no anticipation. The reader may feel the scene is a placeholder, not a moment that matters.

Where you already do it

The scene grips from the first line of dialogue, with the loaded question and the note reveal creating strong reader investment.

Tip 4 of 6

Contract

Does the scene commit to one thing and hold it?

Where it slips

The scene's contract is split: it opens as a potential confrontation about Chiara, but quickly shifts to a tender, secretive rendezvous. A reader may feel unsure whether the scene is meant to resolve jealousy, establish intimacy, or set up a secret affair, which dilutes the scene's focus.

“Tu n'es pas avec moi parce que tu es fâché contre Chiara?”
Where you already do it

The scene promises a moment of connection between father and son after Oliver's departure, and it delivers fully—the father initiates, the son listens, and the emotional truth is spoken. The contract is so strong that any revision that cuts or shortens the father's speech risks breaking the promise.

“I may have come close, but I never had what you two had.”
Tip 5 of 6

Pressure

Is something actually pushing the scene?

Where it slips

Pressure is low: there's no visible force pushing on the characters. The card game is casual, and Elio's exclusion is mild, not urgent. The scene lacks any sense of stakes or impending change.

Where you already do it

Pressure builds from the first line — Elio's alertness, the interruption, the hand, the verb tense. The weight of the moment is felt.

“Elio quickly pulls his bathing suit higher with a jerking movement as if caught in an embarrassing position.”
Tip 6 of 6

Ask for more

Everything above was written for you before you arrived. These are the things you can set running yourself, on the whole script or on one scene at a time.

Inside any scene — 5 more things you can do
  • Ask about the scene A chat that already has that scene's full text and its whole analysis, so you don't have to explain anything first. unlimited
  • Questions to explore In Craft Read: questions written about your scene, tagged Fix, Learn or Explore. One click sends the question to the chat. included
  • Suggested moves In Scene Mechanics, under “If you want to work on it”: specific changes for the thing that scene is missing, each with what it gains and what it costs you. included
  • Improve scene Generates a rewritten version of the scene for you to read against your own. uses credits
  • Beat Tweak Breaks the scene into its beats and lets you change them one at a time, rather than rewriting the whole thing. uses credits

All your scenes

Read them one at a time, or line them all up side by side.

Every scene is read two ways — Scene Mechanics (how the scene is built) and Craft Read (how it is written). Open any scene to see both.

Polish

1 - The Arrival of the Usurper

Orientation
Scene 1

Clear orientation with low charge; execution lifts a functional design.

They shake hands. ELIO: I'm Elio. OLIVER: (non committal) Hi. from your page · Charge

Holdingclear spatial and character orientation · efficient setup of the central dynamic

An orientation beat sets up the world. It isn’t expected to carry a big turn, so a lower Design read here is often the shape of the scene, not a fault.

4 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

2 - A Quiet Introduction

Orientation
Scene 2

Orientation scene is clear and efficient, but lacks dramatic pressure and charge.

My room is now your room. I’ll be next door. from your page · Contract

Holdingclear character introduction · efficient setup

An orientation beat sets up the world. It isn’t expected to carry a big turn, so a lower Design read here is often the shape of the scene, not a fault.

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

3 - A Quiet Dinner Invitation

Transition

Clear, economical scene; lacks pressure and consequence.

Can you make my excuses to your mother? from your page · Pressure

Holdingclear and economical staging · spare dialogue that reveals character

A transition carries us between beats. It owes less structurally than a scene built to turn.

5 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

4 - Breakfast Tensions

Orientation

Orientation scene lands clearly but pressure and development stay flat.

I know myself. If I have three, I'll have a fourth, and more. from your page · Contract

Holdingclear orientation · economical dialogue

An orientation beat sets up the world. It isn’t expected to carry a big turn, so a lower Design read here is often the shape of the scene, not a fault.

4 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

5 - A Lesson in Etymology

Ritual

Charming ritual scene; low stakes and mild pressure keep it from gripping.

I beg to differ. from your page · Pressure

Holdingwarmth and charm · intellectual spark in the correction

A ritual beat repeats a known pattern on purpose, so movement and freshness read low by design.

4 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

6 - A Summer's Farewell

Orientation

Clear, charming orientation scene; pressure and stakes stay soft.

What does one do around here? Nothing. Wait for summer to end. from your page · Pressure

Holdingnatural dialogue · clear setting

An orientation beat sets up the world. It isn’t expected to carry a big turn, so a lower Design read here is often the shape of the scene, not a fault.

4 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

7 - Unresolved Tensions

Relationship shift

A quiet, well-executed beat of courtship that could push its pressure and consequence.

The tall, half-naked OLIVER, hanging over him intimidatingly, causes ELIO to get up and enter the house through the big door. from your page · Pressure

Holdingclear contract · economical staging

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

8 - Variations of the Heart

Relationship shift
Scene 8

A tender, precise scene; the diary turn lands but pressure and consequence stay soft.

It’s young Bach, he dedicated it to his brother. from your page · Development

HoldingThe musical variations create a playful, charged dynamic · The 'young Bach' gift is a tender, specific beat

5 ways to work on it Full read →
Low on its own

9 - A Game of Connection

Orientation

Orientation scene stalls; no turn, low pressure, weak grip.

The cards are dealt. from your page · Movement

HoldingClear visual of the cafe's liveliness · Oliver's 'common touch' is established efficiently

An orientation beat sets up the world. It isn’t expected to carry a big turn, so a lower Design read here is often the shape of the scene, not a fault.

5 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

10 - Tension Under the Lime Trees

Relationship shift

Strong execution and clarity; pressure and development need tightening.

Elio goes back to the table under the lime trees and sits in the shade, far from the others. He is inadvertently rubbing the spot that Oliver had massaged from your page · Development

HoldingThe tactile moment lands with real charge · The dialogue is natural and layered

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

11 - The Absence of Oliver

Relationship shift

A sharp dinner-table scene with a quiet emotional turn, slightly underdeveloped.

ELIO grows thoughtful at the sudden violence of Mafalda’s action from your page · Development

HoldingThe removal of Oliver's place setting is a powerful visual · Elio's 'what if I grow to hate him?' is a sharp, honest line

4 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

12 - A Night of Reluctance and Revelations

Orientation

Orientation scene with clear beats but low pressure and predictability.

ELIO gives in, and goes over to the piano. from your page · Pressure

HoldingClear family dynamics · Economical dialogue

An orientation beat sets up the world. It isn’t expected to carry a big turn, so a lower Design read here is often the shape of the scene, not a fault.

5 ways to work on it Full read →
Rework

13 - Under the Lime Trees: A Moment of Reflection

Orientation

Scene orients clearly but lacks pressure and charge.

ELIO is distracted by the sudden burst of enthusiasm heard from the kitchen over the fish Anchise caught. from your page · Pressure

Holdingclear visual setup · natural dialogue

An orientation beat sets up the world. It isn’t expected to carry a big turn, so a lower Design read here is often the shape of the scene, not a fault.

5 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

15 - Playful Moments in the Orchard

Orientation

Clear, economical scene that lacks dramatic pressure and development.

Elio goes over to them and offers to hold the basket from your page · Development

HoldingThe dialogue is crisp and characterful · The setting is vivid and atmospheric

An orientation beat sets up the world. It isn’t expected to carry a big turn, so a lower Design read here is often the shape of the scene, not a fault.

5 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

16 - Awkward Tensions

Relationship shift

Precise, charged economy of relationship shift.

Elio quickly pulls his bathing suit higher with a jerking movement as if caught in an embarrassing position. from your page · Charge

HoldingErotic tension is palpable · Subtext is clear without exposition

2 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

19 - Secrets by the River

Relationship shift

Intimate scene with clear beats, but contract and pressure need sharpening.

Tu n'es pas avec moi parce que tu es fâché contre Chiara? from your page · Contract

HoldingThe tender, specific gestures (kissing the palm, between fingers) create a memorable intimacy. · The French dialogue adds authenticity and a layer of cultural texture.

5 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

21 - A Tense Farewell

Relationship shift

Scene works; pressure and consequence could sharpen.

No harm. Except I like to go at it alone, if you don’t mind. from your page · Pressure

HoldingCharming, flirtatious dialogue · Clear visual storytelling with the car seats

6 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

22 - A Moment of Discovery

Delivery

Clear, evocative scene; lacks tension and narrative progression.

ELIO looks outside but his attention is drawn to Oliver’s neck. from your page · Development

Holdingclear visual storytelling · evocative description of the statue

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Low on its own

23 - A Serene Discovery at Sirmione

Aftermath

Aftermath scene lacks tension, stakes, and a clear dramatic turn.

The scene ends with a drink invitation that is deferred, not a cliffhanger or a resonant image. Grip

Holdingclear exposition of the artifact's history · functional scene geography

An aftermath beat lands the cost of what just happened rather than driving new action.

5 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

24 - Reflections in the Storm

Thematic argument

Scene's thematic heart lands; pressure and movement need a gentle lift.

When he gets there, no one is waiting. from your page · Pressure

HoldingThe knight's question 'to speak or die' lands with emotional weight. · The parents' dialogue feels lived-in and tender, especially the final 'Do crazy things if you must.'

4 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

25 - Longing in Silence

Investigation

A charged, intimate scene; minor lifts could deepen consequence and freshness.

He is immersed in thought, his mind is elsewhere. from your page · Development

HoldingThe charge is electric—Elio's desire is palpable and raw. · The grip is strong; the risk of discovery keeps the reader hooked.

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

26 - A Moment of Connection

Relationship shift

A quiet, well-executed scene that could deepen its stakes.

The shared errand and the lemonade moment don't carry weight. from your page · Consequence

HoldingThe dialogue is crisp and natural, with a playful rhythm. · The lemonade moment is a tender, understated gesture that reveals Oliver's care.

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Rework

27 - A Lost Soul's Care

Orientation

Orientation scene, clear but lacks structural arc.

OLIVER pulls up his shirt and pulls down the top of his shorts to expose a big scrape and bruise. from your page · Assembly

Holdingdialogue feels natural · character actions are clear

An orientation beat sets up the world. It isn’t expected to carry a big turn, so a lower Design read here is often the shape of the scene, not a fault.

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

28 - Moments of Connection

Delivery

Scene lands its confession; minor tightening could sharpen the turn.

Because I want you to know from your page · Charge

HoldingThe cigarette lighting creates an intimate, charged opening. · Elio's confession is raw and vulnerable, landing with emotional force.

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

29 - Whispers by the Water

Relationship shift
Scene 29

A poised, emotionally charged scene that accomplishes its relationship shift with clarity and grace.

ELIO’s return kiss is so famished he loses himself in it. from your page · Charge

HoldingEmotional voltage is intense and sustained · Beat-by-beat clarity makes the subtext legible

2 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

30 - A Moment of Connection and Crisis

Relationship shift

Strong charge and clarity, but consequence and grip need sharpening.

ELIO is in the kitchen looking for ice to stop his nose bleeding, but the freezer is empty. from your page · Consequence

HoldingSecret foot-play is charged and intimate · Dialogue is crisp and characterful

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

31 - Tender Moments in the Villa

Aftermath

Tender aftermath scene; execution clean, but pressure and consequence stall.

I’ll get over it. from your page · Pressure

Holdingintimate physicality · quiet humor

An aftermath beat lands the cost of what just happened rather than driving new action.

4 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

32 - Playful Tensions

Orientation

Clear orientation with a gentle tease, but pressure and movement stall.

Alors... On sort ou pas? from your page · Pressure

HoldingThe French dialogue adds authentic texture · The physical comedy of the cigarette near the foot is memorable

An orientation beat sets up the world. It isn’t expected to carry a big turn, so a lower Design read here is often the shape of the scene, not a fault.

5 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

33 - Betrayal in the Night

Relationship shift

Strong scene with a subtle shift; minor economy and pressure lifts.

Il t'aime bien aussi - plus que toi, je pense. from your page · Development

HoldingAnnella's gentle probing creates a tender, charged moment · Elio's physical reactions (abrupt stand, sitting again) show his turmoil

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

34 - Morning Reflections

Aftermath

Aftermath scene lands its tone but lacks rising pressure.

I don't think I want to know. from your page · Pressure

Holdingclear character dynamics · economical dialogue

An aftermath beat lands the cost of what just happened rather than driving new action.

4 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

37 - Unspoken Bonds

Delivery

Scene lands its quiet gift beat but lacks forward pressure.

This is the best present I’ve received all year. from your page · Charge

HoldingThe gift of the book with the inscription is a precise, characterful beat. · The dialogue is restrained and true to the characters' dynamic.

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

38 - Bittersweet Reunion at Sunset

Aftermath

Clear, warm aftermath scene; low tension and development hold it back.

Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow. from your page · Grip

Holdingwarm character moments · clear dialogue

An aftermath beat lands the cost of what just happened rather than driving new action.

4 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

39 - Restless Longing

Transition

A quiet transition that keeps clarity but lacks visible pressure or progression.

ELIO stands in the garden with the bowl of ice cream and looks up at Oliver’s window. from your page · Pressure

HoldingThe quiet, observant tone matches the film's lyrical register · The French dialogue adds a layer of intimacy and distance

A transition carries us between beats. It owes less structurally than a scene built to turn.

4 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

40 - Whispers of the Night

Relationship shift

Strong intimate scene; sharpen Marzia's vulnerability and Elio's ambiguity.

Tu m'embrasses encore? from your page · Charge

HoldingMarzia's vulnerability is palpable and specific · The dialogue is charged with subtext and restraint

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

41 - Whispers of Longing

Aftermath

Emotionally vivid aftermath scene; movement and development could tighten.

Four note attempts in succession, each followed by crumpling, before Elio settles on the fifth. Movement

HoldingIntimate, vulnerable tone that lands emotionally · Clear emotional stakes and character need

An aftermath beat lands the cost of what just happened rather than driving new action.

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

42 - Morning Whispers

Relationship shift

Scene works well; pressure could be sharpened for stronger tension.

Must be tired then. Or were you playing poker too? from your page · Pressure

HoldingTension through subtext · Emotional payoff of the note

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

43 - Art, Anxiety, and Dinner Plans

Transition

A clear transition scene that lacks dramatic pressure and development.

But OLIVER is non-committal and won’t be drawn into the decision. from your page · Development

HoldingThe intellectual banter between Oliver and Perlman is engaging and specific. · Elio's watch-checking and cookie grab are a nice physical beat of nervousness.

A transition carries us between beats. It owes less structurally than a scene built to turn.

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Rework

44 - Afternoon Whispers

Pursuit

Scene's clarity and economy are solid, but pressure and development stall.

He takes off his watch, places it on a bed-side table, where he can see it. It is 4:29. from your page · Pressure

HoldingClear and economical staging · The watch time-check is a nice detail

5 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

46 - Introspection in the Night

Investigation

Quiet, well-observed scene; development and unpredictability could deepen.

He glimpses himself in the mirror and says to his reflection: “Do I know you?”. from your page · Development

HoldingThe quiet, sensory details create a strong sense of intimacy · The contrast between Elio's restlessness and Oliver's calm is compelling

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

47 - Nervous Connections

Relationship shift

Strong execution and charge, but pressure and development need a lift.

I'm nervous. / Me too. / I am more so. from your page · Development

HoldingThe charged silence and Oliver's first line create immediate intimacy · Elio's 'I am more so' lands as a vulnerable, character-specific moment

2 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

48 - A Night of Intimacy

Relationship shift

A tender, charged first-time scene that lands its emotional shift with clarity and grace.

ELIO looks into Oliver’s eyes in an intensity of love and expectation, wanting this moment to last forever, knowing there will be no coming back from this. from your page · Charge

HoldingThe charged, tender atmosphere · The specificity of physical gestures

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

49 - Morning Reflections

Aftermath

Strong execution, clear aftermath; pressure and development need a nudge.

Elio shrugs the comment away not wanting Oliver looking into his heart. from your page · Pressure

HoldingThe dialogue is sharp and revealing. · The emotional charge between Elio and Oliver is palpable.

An aftermath beat lands the cost of what just happened rather than driving new action.

4 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

50 - Awkward Longing

Relationship shift

Scene lands its emotional shift but pressure plateaus after the peak.

Well, this is promising. You're hard again. Good. from your page · Charge

HoldingThe oral beat is surprising and charged · Foot-under-foot gesture is a lovely, earned payoff

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

51 - A Moment of Longing

Relationship shift

Emotional core lands; assembly and development need tightening.

LIFE IN THE GARDEN / A second unit series of shots of life in the garden. from your page · Assembly

HoldingOliver's vulnerability lands clearly · Elio's pursuit is felt

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

52 - Summer Confessions

Relationship shift

A charged, tender scene that lands; only minor tightening remains.

You’re hurting me. from your page · Pressure

HoldingThe scene's emotional charge is electric, moving from shame to acceptance. · The dialogue is fresh and unpredictable, with Oliver's wit landing perfectly.

2 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

53 - A Night of Longing

Aftermath

Intimate aftermath scene with strong execution, but pressure is muted.

The way you reacted made me feel I’d almost molested you. from your page · Charge

HoldingThe dialogue is charged and specific, especially Oliver's volleyball confession. · The cross-cutting creates a quiet, intimate rhythm.

An aftermath beat lands the cost of what just happened rather than driving new action.

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

54 - Tangled Emotions

Relationship shift

Solid relationship shift, pressure could rise.

OLIVER, thinking they are unobserved by the others, caresses Elio’s foot next to his in the water with one of his own. from your page · Pressure

HoldingClear emotional beats · Economical storytelling

2 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

55 - A Moment at the Memorial

Relationship shift

A tender, well-executed scene that deepens the relationship with minimal dialogue.

OLIVER decides to cheat, and moves in ELIO’s direction, until they make contact. from your page · Pressure

HoldingThe charged physicality of the memorial scene · The silent, mirrored couple adds depth

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

56 - A Night of Laughter and Discomfort

Relationship shift

Strong emotional beat, but pressure and consequence need tightening.

it seems like the situation could go badly. from your page · Pressure

HoldingThe drunken intimacy and the dance feel spontaneous and alive. · Oliver's persistence in finding the song pays off the earlier beat.

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

57 - Bittersweet Farewell

Aftermath
Scene 57

Emotional beats land; pressure and freshness lag.

IT'S THE KISS OF A LIFETIME. from your page · Charge

HoldingThe kiss of a lifetime lands as a visceral, defiant moment · Elio's phone call to his mother is a raw, specific emotional beat

An aftermath beat lands the cost of what just happened rather than driving new action.

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

58 - Moments of Comfort

Aftermath

Emotional aftermath lands; pressure stays flat, Marzia's beat could deepen.

Elio tries straightening up to hide his emotions, his face recently upset by tears. from your page · Pressure

HoldingThe opening caress and Elio's crumple is devastatingly clear · Marzia's forgiveness and the 'pour la vie' exchange lands with quiet power

An aftermath beat lands the cost of what just happened rather than driving new action.

3 ways to work on it Full read →
Keep

59 - Embracing Memories

Aftermath
Scene 59

Exceptional aftermath scene with deep emotional truth.

Elio's evasive 'I think he did' and 'Oliver was Oliver' offer small resistance, but the father immediately overrides them with warmth, so the pressure never escalates. Pressure

HoldingFather's monologue lands with devastating honesty · Elio's silent grief is palpable

An aftermath beat lands the cost of what just happened rather than driving new action.

2 ways to work on it Full read →
Polish

60 - Echoes of the Past

Aftermath
Scene 60

Strong emotional closure with minor structural drags; polish for peak impact.

Elio is so deeply in his thoughts that only after a long beat... from your page · Pressure

Holdingthe phone call's emotional honesty · the final fire close-up

An aftermath beat lands the cost of what just happened rather than driving new action.

3 ways to work on it Full read →
How these scenes compare to produced screenplays A radar chart against produced screenplays — interesting if you like graphs, and it takes a minute to interpret
Scene-Level Percentile Chart

📊 Understanding Your Percentile Rankings

Your scene scores are compared against professional produced screenplays in our vault (The Matrix, Breaking Bad, etc.). The percentile shows where you rank compared to these films.

Example: A score of 8.5 in Dialogue might be 85th percentile (strong!), while the same 8.5 in Conflict might only be 50th percentile (needs work). The percentile tells you what your raw scores actually mean.

💡

Hover over each axis on the radar chart to see what that category measures and why it matters.

🎬
A 5 is fine — here's how scene scores read
0–2not working
3–4weak
5–6functional ★
7–8strong
9–10exceptional

“Functional” (5–6) is a solid, professional scene — that's where most scenes sit. The scale rides low on purpose, so it has room to point down (where to fix) and up (what's working).

Why your numbers look lower than they used to

Scenes now use the full 0–10 scale, so your numbers will look lower and more spread out than before. That's the new, smarter model being honest — not a verdict on your script.

The table below uses the same colors: warm = worth a look · neutral = fine · green = working. The point is awareness, not maxing every number — a scene can be light on plot or conflict for good reasons.

Compelled to Read Story Content Character Development Scene Elements Audience Engagement Technical Aspects
Click for Full Analysis Triage Design Overall Clarity Scene Impact Concept Plot Originality Characters Character Changes Internal Goal External Goal Conflict Opposition High stakes Story forward Twist Emotional Impact Dialogue Engagement Pacing Formatting Structure
Scene 11 - The Arrival of the Usurper PolishOrientationClear orientation with low charge; execution lifts a functional design.SoftThe scene orients us to Elio's world and the arrival of Oliver, establishing a credible setup (the usurper line, the room swap) but the opposition is gestured at rather than felt, so the contest never runs. The architecture sets up a spatial and relational shift, though the pressure and consequence axes stall before they engage. 7.2 8 / 8 5.5 / 5 7 65.5 7 178323545 66.578.56.5
Scene 22 - A Quiet Introduction PolishOrientationOrientation scene is clear and efficient, but lacks dramatic pressure and charge.SoftThe scene establishes the setting and character dynamics with clarity, introducing Elio's hospitality and Oliver's exhaustion. The design is functional but leans on exposition, with little pressure or consequence to drive engagement. 6.5 9 / 7.5 6.5 / 6 7 57 7 256333456 66686
3 - A Quiet Dinner Invitation PolishTransitionClear, economical scene; lacks pressure and consequence.SoftThe scene's design is a quiet transition: Elio's summons to dinner is deflected by Oliver, who remains asleep, and Elio's small act of dropping a book fails to create a real exchange. The architecture sets up a moment of potential intimacy (the open door, the borrowed room) but the opposition is overridden before any contest forms, so the scene reads as a beat of missed connection rather than a turn. 6.5 9 / 8 5.5 / 6 6 57 7 1673323.546 76796
4 - Breakfast Tensions PolishOrientationOrientation scene lands clearly but pressure and development stay flat.SoftThe scene establishes Oliver's arrival through small, observant gestures—his failed egg crack, Mafalda's intervention, and the bank-account exchange—but the pressure stays gentle and the development is mostly static, with Elio's fascination noted rather than escalated. 6.8 9 / 8 5.5 / 6.5 7 67 8 37.564334.576 977.596.5
5 - A Lesson in Etymology PolishRitualCharming ritual scene; low stakes and mild pressure keep it from gripping.SoftThe scene establishes the Perlman household ritual of testing summer guests, with Oliver's etymological correction as the centerpiece. The contract is set (the professor's playful test) and the development of Oliver's competence is clear, but the pressure is gentle and the consequence is minimal—the scene observes a charming moment rather than driving a turn. 6.5 9 / 8 4 / 5.5 8 58 8 262332374 977.597
6 - A Summer's Farewell PolishOrientationClear, charming orientation scene; pressure and stakes stay soft.SoftThe scene establishes the summer setting and the dynamic between Elio and Oliver through dialogue and a gentle physical beat. The contract is set (Elio's attraction, Oliver's coolness), but pressure remains low and development is minimal, as the scene mostly orients rather than pushes. 6.5 9 / 8 4.5 / 6 7 66.5 8 267432446 86796
7 - Unresolved Tensions KeepRelationship shiftA quiet, well-executed beat of courtship that could push its pressure and consequence.SolidThe scene's design is a courtship ritual: Oliver's cold stare interrupts Elio's music, then he crosses to re-engage, turning a moment of rejection into a request for repetition. The contract is clear—Elio's vulnerability, Oliver's control—and the movement from distance to proximity is clean. Pressure is present but modest, and consequence stays internal, so the scene reads as a graceful pause rather than a turning point. 6.5 9 / 8 6.5 / 7 7 55.5 7 376564466 777.587
Scene 88 - Variations of the Heart KeepRelationship shiftA tender, precise scene; the diary turn lands but pressure and consequence stay soft.SolidThe scene's design hinges on a musical negotiation that doubles as an emotional one: Elio's playful variations are a way of testing Oliver's attention, and the shift to 'young Bach' becomes a gift. The contract is clear—Oliver wants the piece 'as written,' Elio resists—but the pressure is gentle, more flirtation than conflict, and the consequence is deferred to the diary. The architecture sets up a credible intimacy but the stakes remain internal and quiet. 7.5 9 / 8.5 6.5 / 7 8 67 8 487554477 97.5888
9 - A Game of Connection Low on its ownOrientationOrientation scene stalls; no turn, low pressure, weak grip.BrokenThe scene's design is a static orientation: it establishes Oliver's easy integration into the local card game and Elio's peripheral role, but it lacks any pressure or turn. The contract is set (Oliver's charm, Elio's observation) but development is flat, and consequence is absent, so the scene reads as a snapshot rather than a step forward. 5.8 8.5 / 7 6 / 6.5 7 56 6 253343565 45.5575.5
10 - Tension Under the Lime Trees KeepRelationship shiftStrong execution and clarity; pressure and development need tightening.SolidThe scene's design establishes a charged social dynamic and a tactile relationship shift, but the pressure of the contest between Elio's desire and Oliver's casual dominance doesn't fully escalate, and the development of Elio's internal arc stops short of a clear turning point. 6.5 7 / 8 7 / 7 7 57 7 473554577 77.5877
11 - The Absence of Oliver KeepRelationship shiftA sharp dinner-table scene with a quiet emotional turn, slightly underdeveloped.SolidThe scene's design centers on a relationship shift: Elio's resentment toward Oliver is voiced, then undercut by the visceral removal of Oliver's place setting. The contract is clear—Elio's hostility is the surface, but the deeper feeling is loss. Pressure builds through the family's casual dismissal, and the consequence lands in Elio's silent reaction. Development is present but modest, as Elio's stance is stated rather than evolved. 6.8 8.5 / 8 7 / 7.5 7 67 8 37.56654.5477 876.58.56.5
12 - A Night of Reluctance and Revelations PolishOrientationOrientation scene with clear beats but low pressure and predictability.SoftThe scene orients us to Elio's mood and family dynamics, setting up his reluctance and the push to perform, but the pressure is gentle and the consequences of his choices are not yet felt. 6.5 8.5 / 8 7 / 7 7 66 7 37.55544467 76.56.58.57
13 - Under the Lime Trees: A Moment of Reflection ReworkOrientationScene orients clearly but lacks pressure and charge.SoftThe scene establishes a quiet, observational moment under the lime trees, with Elio positioned as a silent witness to the intellectual and personal dynamics between Perlman and Oliver. The design sets up a potential tension between Elio's passive observation and the lively kitchen interruption, but the scene stops short of generating real pressure or consequence, leaving the orientation functional but flat. 6.5 8.5 / 7 5 / 6.5 7 66.5 7 364433555 665.575.5
14 - Reflections at the South Terrazza KeepRelationship shiftA charming scene that lands its warmth but underplays its stakes.SolidThe scene's design leans on a quiet, intimate exchange that shifts the relationship from distance to a shared, almost flirtatious complicity. The contract is clear—Elio is drawn in by Oliver's attention—and the movement from lounging apart to sitting together is gentle but effective. However, the pressure and consequence stay soft: the scene reads as a pleasant interlude rather than a turning point, and the stakes of this shift are not fully felt. 6.8 9 / 8 5 / 7 7 57 8 473334356 76.5687
15 - Playful Moments in the Orchard PolishOrientationClear, economical scene that lacks dramatic pressure and development.SoftThe scene establishes a quiet, sun-drenched afternoon with a light flirtatious exchange between Elio and Oliver. The contract is set (Elio's private thoughts, Oliver's teasing), but the pressure is minimal and the movement is gentle, ending without a turn. The development is subtle—Elio's offer to hold the basket is a small gesture—but it reads more as activity than growth. 6.5 9 / 8 5 / 7 7 56.5 8 274433346 766.586
16 - Awkward Tensions KeepRelationship shiftPrecise, charged economy of relationship shift.SolidThe architecture sets up a credible threat (the hand in the suit, the interrupted private moment) and the pressure builds through Oliver's gentle interrogation and the tug-of-war of the handhold. The shift is cleanly staged — the relationship moves from embarrassment to a tentative, defiant invitation. 7.2 9.5 / 9 8 / 8 8 77.5 8 38.57766778 78897.5
17 - Flirtations and Rivalries PolishRelationship shiftCharming flirtation but stakes and consequence stay soft.SoftThe scene's design sets up a light romantic triangle through Chiara's playful dominance and Elio's envious observation, but the contest between Chiara and Elio never escalates into real pressure, and the promised consequence of Oliver's translation deadline fizzles into banter. 6.5 9 / 8 7 / 7.5 7 67.5 7 276554556 877.596.5
18 - Dancing with Desire PolishRelationship shiftScene captures vibe but lacks pressure and turn.SoftThe scene sets a social dance-floor dynamic where Elio's longing for Oliver is observed by Marzia, but the pressure stays ambient and the development reads as activity rather than a shift. 6.5 7 / 8 7 / 7.5 7 57 8 576655468 67.5777
19 - Secrets by the River PolishRelationship shiftIntimate scene with clear beats, but contract and pressure need sharpening.SoftThe scene's design centers on a private, tender exchange that shifts the relationship between Elio and Marzia, but the contract is muddled by competing expectations about what the scene is for—whether it's about jealousy, intimacy, or secrecy. The pressure is gentle rather than urgent, and the development reads as a plateau rather than a progression, though the final beats carry a quiet consequence. 6.2 9 / 8 5 / 7 7 56 6 265.5433456 66797
20 - Morning Banter and Anticipation KeepRelationship shiftA charming, well-executed scene with a light touch; pressure and consequence could deepen.SolidThe scene's design sets up a quiet morning-after intimacy, using the egg and the Sirmione trip to create a shared space between Elio and Oliver while the family banter keeps it light. The contract is clear: the scene promises a shift in Elio's and Oliver's dynamic, and it delivers a subtle one through teasing and invitation. Pressure is present but gentle, and consequence is implied rather than felt, leaving the scene's stakes understated. 6.5 9 / 8 7 / 7.5 7 66.5 8 376434666 87896.5
21 - A Tense Farewell KeepRelationship shiftScene works; pressure and consequence could sharpen.SolidThe scene's design sets up a quiet triangular tension—Elio's matchmaking, Oliver's deflection, and Perlman's interruption—but the pressure stays mild and the consequences of Elio's probing remain implicit. The contract of a relationship shift is honored, yet the development of that shift is understated. 6.8 9 / 8 7 / 7.5 7 66.5 7 278564566 877.597
22 - A Moment of Discovery PolishDeliveryClear, evocative scene; lacks tension and narrative progression.SoftThe scene establishes a clear setting and introduces a significant archaeological discovery, but it functions mainly as a delivery of information and spectacle. The contract is set (a meaningful find) but pressure and development are minimal, so the sequence reads as a static interlude rather than a scene with momentum. 6.5 8.5 / 7 4 / 6.5 7 66.5 6 157223456 465.586.5
23 - A Serene Discovery at Sirmione Low on its ownAftermathAftermath scene lacks tension, stakes, and a clear dramatic turn.BrokenThe scene functions as aftermath, but its design is diffuse: competing scene contracts (celebration, Elio's romantic obligation, Oliver's deferral) dilute any single dramatic purpose. The historical exposition, while interesting, stalls pressure and development. 6.5 9 / 8 5 / 6.5 7 57 7 265113456 76797
24 - Reflections in the Storm PolishThematic argumentScene's thematic heart lands; pressure and movement need a gentle lift.SoftThe scene builds a quiet thematic argument around the knight's dilemma, using the blackout and the parents' counsel to press Elio's unspoken feelings. The contract is set clearly (the question 'to speak or die'), and the development of the theme is steady, though the pressure stays gentle and the movement is mostly lateral. 6.5 9 / 8.5 6 / 7 7 57.5 7 372435377 86787.5
25 - Longing in Silence KeepInvestigationA charged, intimate scene; minor lifts could deepen consequence and freshness.SolidThe scene's design is a quiet, sensual investigation: Elio's desire drives him through the villa, each room a step closer to Oliver's essence. The contract is clear—his longing is palpable—and the pressure builds through the risk of discovery, though the stakes remain mostly internal. The movement is purposeful, but the development of consequence is subtle, leaving the aftermath of his transgression unexplored. 7.2 9.5 / 9 7.5 / 8 9 59 8 397635488 08.58.598
26 - A Moment of Connection KeepRelationship shiftA quiet, well-executed scene that could deepen its stakes.SolidThe scene's design centers on a relationship shift through a shared errand, with the knight's dilemma as a subtle contract. It sets up a gentle pressure between the two characters, but the stakes remain understated, and the consequence of their exchange is minimal, leaving the development functional rather than transformative. 6.5 9.5 / 8.5 6 / 7 6 65.5 7 2782135.566 76.57.597
27 - A Lost Soul's Care ReworkOrientationOrientation scene, clear but lacks structural arc.SoftThe scene's design is a quiet character moment, but the contract is vague and the scene lacks pressure or consequence, making it feel more like a pause than a progression. 6.5 9 / 8 5.5 / 7 7 57 8 373212356 766.595.5
28 - Moments of Connection KeepDeliveryScene lands its confession; minor tightening could sharpen the turn.SolidThe scene's design centers on a confession that is both intimate and public, with the town square providing a neutral, exposed backdrop. The contract is set early with the cigarette offering, and the pressure builds through Elio's hesitant, then blunt, admission. The development is strong, moving from small talk to a direct declaration, and the consequence lands with Oliver's deflection and the typist's mistake as a defusing mechanism. 7.2 9.5 / 9 9 / 8.5 8 77.5 8 795778878 98.5898
Scene 2929 - Whispers by the Water KeepRelationship shiftA poised, emotionally charged scene that accomplishes its relationship shift with clarity and grace.SolidThe architecture sets up a private, liminal space (the spring, the break from the ride) where the relationship can shift. The contract is clear: Elio's confession and Oliver's restraint. Development is layered—each line deepens the unspoken. Movement is fluid, cycling between approach and retreat. 7.8 9 / 8.5 8 / 8.5 8 97.5 8 7.598878979 898.598
30 - A Moment of Connection and Crisis KeepRelationship shiftStrong charge and clarity, but consequence and grip need sharpening.SolidThe scene's design sets up a charged secret intimacy (the foot-play) and a sudden physical disruption (the nosebleed), but the consequence of the nosebleed arrives without a decision point, leaving the turn feeling more like an interruption than a consequence. 7.5 9 / 9 8 / 8 9 78.5 8 687767788 78898
31 - Tender Moments in the Villa PolishAftermathTender aftermath scene; execution clean, but pressure and consequence stall.SoftThe scene's design is a quiet aftermath that deepens intimacy between Elio and Oliver through touch and shared identity, but it lacks a visible turn or escalating force, so the pressure stays low and the consequence remains internal and unresolved. 7.2 9 / 8.5 7 / 7.5 8 78.5 9 585455679 98887.5
32 - Playful Tensions PolishOrientationClear orientation with a gentle tease, but pressure and movement stall.SoftThe scene orients us to Elio's social world and his guardedness about his mother, while planting a question about Oliver's absence. The contract is functional but the pressure is soft, and the movement is minimal — the scene tends to settle rather than turn. 6.5 9 / 8 5 / 7 6 46 7 478333366 77897
33 - Betrayal in the Night KeepRelationship shiftStrong scene with a subtle shift; minor economy and pressure lifts.SolidThe scene's design quietly advances the relationship: Annella's gentle probing reveals Oliver's feelings, shifting Elio's awareness. The contract is set with the smoothie ritual and the question about Oliver, and the pressure builds through Mafalda's worry and Annella's revelation. Development is steady, with Elio's abrupt stand and the Star of David marking his internal turn. 6.5 9 / 8.5 7.5 / 7.5 7 67 8 47.56544.55.567 86.578.57
34 - Morning Reflections PolishAftermathAftermath scene lands its tone but lacks rising pressure.SoftThe aftermath mechanism gives the scene a reflective, post-event texture. Perlman's 'traviamento' speech offers thematic weight, but the scene tends to coast on that speech rather than building a visible force that pushes Elio or Oliver toward a decision. 6.5 9 / 8 5.5 / 7 7 56.5 8 2624443.577 86686
35 - Restless Longing KeepRelationship shiftTender, restrained scene; pressure and consequence need a sharper edge.SolidThe scene's design leans on a quiet, awkward reconnection between Elio and Oliver, using the volleyball as a physical stand-in for their unspoken tension. The contract is clear—Elio's peevishness and Oliver's deflection—but the pressure stays gentle, and the consequence of their exchange remains soft, leaving the scene more atmospheric than driving. 6.5 9 / 8 7 / 7.5 7 67.5 7 276554476 776.586.5
36 - A Moment of Connection KeepRelationship shiftConfession scene lands with emotional precision and clarity.SolidThe architecture sets up a clear contract (going together) and moves from hesitation to a raw confession. The pressure builds through Oliver's direct question, and the consequence of Elio's 'I worship you' lands with full weight. 7.5 9.5 / 9 8 / 8.5 8 87.5 9 798647869 98.58.598
37 - Unspoken Bonds PolishDeliveryScene lands its quiet gift beat but lacks forward pressure.SoftThe scene's design is a quiet delivery of a gift, a beat of connection that pays off the earlier tension between Elio and Oliver. The contract is set by the narrator's framing of what could have been, and the scene delivers on that by showing Elio's gesture. However, the pressure is low, with no visible force pushing the scene forward, and the consequence is light, as the gift's impact is understated. 6.5 9 / 8 5 / 7 7 65 7 289333546 77686
38 - Bittersweet Reunion at Sunset PolishAftermathClear, warm aftermath scene; low tension and development hold it back.SoftThe scene functions as a quiet aftermath, establishing Oliver's departure and the family's fondness. The design sets up a gentle farewell but lacks forward pressure or consequence, as the characters settle into comfort rather than conflict. 6.5 9 / 7 4 / 6.5 6 64 7 153213526 65.5686
39 - Restless Longing PolishTransitionA quiet transition that keeps clarity but lacks visible pressure or progression.SoftThe scene's design is a transitional beat: Elio's restlessness moves him from kitchen to garden to TV to phone, each step a small displacement. The contract sets up a need for action (calling Marzia) but the pressure is internal and unstated, so the movement reads as idle rather than driven. Development is minimal—Elio's state is established but doesn't escalate within the scene. 6.5 9.5 / 8.5 5.5 / 6.5 7 67 7 27.564334.566 76.57.596
40 - Whispers of the Night KeepRelationship shiftStrong intimate scene; sharpen Marzia's vulnerability and Elio's ambiguity.SolidThe scene's design centers on a relationship shift: Marzia's guarded confession and Elio's impulsive gestures. The contract is clear—Marzia's fear of being hurt by Elio's changeability—and the pressure builds from verbal sparring to physical intimacy. Development is strong, moving from playful banter to vulnerable revelation, though the turn into physicality could feel slightly abrupt. 6.5 9 / 8 5.5 / 6 7 56 7 267544357 877.586
41 - Whispers of Longing KeepAftermathEmotionally vivid aftermath scene; movement and development could tighten.SolidThe scene's design as an aftermath mechanism is sound: it shows Elio processing the encounter through a private, iterative writing ritual. The contract is clear (Elio's need to reach Oliver), and consequence lands through the physical memory and the note's delivery. However, movement stalls slightly in the repeated crumple-write cycle, and development reads more as activity than deepening insight. 7.2 9.5 / 9 8 / 7.5 7 66.5 9 498645578 77.5898
42 - Morning Whispers KeepRelationship shiftScene works well; pressure could be sharpened for stronger tension.SolidThe scene's design sets up a quiet morning-after tension through subtext and a delayed note reveal, but the pressure of the unresolved night before could be more explicitly felt. 7.5 9 / 9 8 / 8 8 86 8 789327859 78898
43 - Art, Anxiety, and Dinner Plans PolishTransitionA clear transition scene that lacks dramatic pressure and development.SoftThe scene functions as a transition, establishing the intellectual and flirtatious dynamic between Oliver and Perlman, then shifting to the lunch table where Elio's crush is teased. The design sets up a potential romantic tension but doesn't develop it; the pressure remains low and the movement is mostly linear. 6.5 9 / 8 5 / 7 7 57 7 165333546 66686
44 - Afternoon Whispers ReworkPursuitScene's clarity and economy are solid, but pressure and development stall.SoftThe scene's design sets up a pursuit that is clear and economical, but it stops short of generating real pressure or development. The movement from the abbeveratoio to the attic is linear and functional, yet the scene reads as activity without growth, and the exit closes without opening a new question. 6.5 9 / 8 5 / 7 7 66 7 267323346 66786
45 - A Lesson in Acceptance PolishDeliveryCharming scene with clear execution; design and read need sharpening.SoftThe scene's design is modest: it delivers a small character beat—Elio's reluctant acceptance of the gift—and a light social entrance. The contract is clear (Elio must wear the shirt), but pressure is low and development is static: Elio's resistance is voiced and then simply resolved by changing clothes, with no turn or escalation. The consequence is light, as the scene doesn't carry significant stakes beyond a minor social obligation. 6.5 9 / 8 4 / 6 7 56 8 367322355 86786
46 - Introspection in the Night KeepInvestigationQuiet, well-observed scene; development and unpredictability could deepen.SolidThe scene's design is a quiet, intimate study of Elio's longing and self-awareness, built on a contract of restrained observation. The pressure is internal and ambient, with movement through small, sensory actions, but the development of Elio's emotional state is more repetitive than progressive. 6.5 9 / 8 8 / 8 6 66.5 7 287535466 67897
47 - Nervous Connections KeepRelationship shiftStrong execution and charge, but pressure and development need a lift.SolidThe scene's design sets up a quiet, intimate relationship shift through a balcony rendezvous, with the contract of mutual nervousness and the movement of Elio's approach. Pressure is moderate — the stakes of this first private meeting are felt but not fully escalated, and development reads as activity (Elio running, smoking reveal) rather than a deepening of their dynamic. 6.5 9 / 8 7 / 7.5 6 55 8 287435547 877.586
48 - A Night of Intimacy KeepRelationship shiftA tender, charged first-time scene that lands its emotional shift with clarity and grace.SolidThe scene's architecture builds a slow, deliberate approach to intimacy, honoring the contract of a first-time encounter with a clear pressure curve and a consequential shift in the relationship. The development from shyness to mutual abandon is carefully staged, and the movement carries the reader through each beat of approach, contact, and surrender. 8.5 9.5 / 9 7 / 8 9 88 9 898547889 99998.5
49 - Morning Reflections PolishAftermathStrong execution, clear aftermath; pressure and development need a nudge.SoftThe scene's design centers on the aftermath of intimacy, using the morning-after to expose Elio's internal conflict and Oliver's need for reassurance. The contract is set by Oliver's direct question, but the pressure is muted, and the development stays in a holding pattern, with Elio's emotional state shifting only slightly. The consequence is clear—Elio's withdrawal and the decision to go swimming—but the scene stops short of escalating the tension. 7.2 9 / 7.5 6.5 / 7.5 7 66 8 476544567 76.56.586.5
50 - Awkward Longing KeepRelationship shiftScene lands its emotional shift but pressure plateaus after the peak.SolidThe design builds a clear relationship shift from tension to intimacy to quiet belonging, anchored by Oliver's bold entry and the foot-under-foot beat. The contract is honored (the night-after question, the physical escalation), but pressure plateaus after the oral beat, and development stays narrow—Elio's internal arc is signaled but not deepened. 7.2 9 / 8 7 / 7.5 8 68 9 686556677 87.57.587.5
51 - A Moment of Longing KeepRelationship shiftEmotional core lands; assembly and development need tightening.SolidThe scene's architecture sets up a charged reunion after intimacy, with Oliver voicing fear and Elio seeking closeness, but the shift from confession to a garden interlude and peach pick feels like a gear change that stalls the pressure curve. 7.2 9 / 9 7 / 8 8 78 8 787667788 98787
52 - Summer Confessions KeepRelationship shiftA charged, tender scene that lands; only minor tightening remains.SolidThe scene's design is a relationship shift built on a shocking, intimate act that deepens the bond between Elio and Oliver. The contract is clear: Elio's private act is discovered, and the scene turns from shame to acceptance. The pressure builds through Oliver's playful yet probing questions, and the development moves from Elio's self-blame to Oliver's reassurance, culminating in a commitment. The consequence is the emotional commitment they make, which feels earned. 7.5 9 / 9 7 / 8 9 79 9 887657789 88888
53 - A Night of Longing PolishAftermathIntimate aftermath scene with strong execution, but pressure is muted.SoftThe scene's design is a quiet aftermath, threading the villa's nighttime stillness through Anchise's tinkering, Mafalda's ironing, and the garden conversation, then pivoting to the Perlmans' bedroom. It sets up a gentle parallel between the lovers' intimacy and the parents' quiet acknowledgment, but the pressure is internal and understated, lacking a visible force on the page. 7.5 9 / 9 7 / 8 8 67.5 9 387425478 98898
54 - Tangled Emotions KeepRelationship shiftSolid relationship shift, pressure could rise.SolidThe design sets up a relationship shift through intimate gestures and public acknowledgment, but the tension (pressure) is understated, relying on observation rather than escalating stakes. 6.5 8.5 / 8 7 / 7.5 7 77 7 476546747 77786.5
55 - A Moment at the Memorial KeepRelationship shiftA tender, well-executed scene that deepens the relationship with minimal dialogue.SolidThe scene's design centers on a relationship shift, using the memorial as a charged setting to move Elio and Oliver from playful intimacy to a moment of physical contact and then a boundary. The contract is clear: two young men exploring their connection, with the memorial's scale and the watching couple amplifying the tension. Development is steady, moving from mimicry to embrace to rejection, though the final beat on the bus hints at unresolved emotion. 7.5 9 / 9 8 / 8 8 78 8 477557768 78797
56 - A Night of Laughter and Discomfort KeepRelationship shiftStrong emotional beat, but pressure and consequence need tightening.SolidThe scene architecture sets up a relationship shift through shared intimacy and a public dance, but the pressure of the moment (the threat of a bad situation) and the consequences of Elio's vomiting are underdeveloped, leaving the emotional turn slightly muted. 6.5 8.5 / 7 5.5 / 7 7 66.5 7 265423466 66.55.586
Scene 5757 - Bittersweet Farewell PolishAftermathEmotional beats land; pressure and freshness lag.SoftThe aftermath mechanism is used to let the farewell breathe, with a clear contract (Oliver leaves, Elio grieves) and a gentle pressure curve that peaks at the kiss and dissolves into departure. Development deepens Elio's vulnerability through physical and vocal cues, but consequence is muted—the long-term emotional cost of the goodbye remains implied rather than felt. 6.5 9 / 8.5 8 / 7.5 7 67.5 7 487546878 87.56.586.5
58 - Moments of Comfort PolishAftermathEmotional aftermath lands; pressure stays flat, Marzia's beat could deepen.SoftThe scene's design is an aftermath mechanism: it shows Elio's grief through small gestures (Annella's caress, Anchise's shared sadness) and introduces Marzia as a counterpoint of grace. The contract is clear—Elio is heartbroken, and the world responds with tenderness—but the pressure axis reads as an effect of the situation rather than a rising tension, and the development of Marzia's beat is functional but not deepened. 6.8 9.5 / 8.5 4 / 5.5 7 67 8 6863244.588 77897
Scene 5959 - Embracing Memories KeepAftermathExceptional aftermath scene with deep emotional truth.SolidThe scene's architecture is a masterclass in aftermath: the return to a changed room, the father's unsentimental yet tender monologue, and Elio's silent reception create a container for grief and gratitude. The contract is explicit (father will speak, son will listen) and the movement arcs from avoidance to acceptance, held by the central metaphor of the flame. 8.2 9 / 9 6 / 8 9 79 10 883437589 108888
Scene 6060 - Echoes of the Past PolishAftermathStrong emotional closure with minor structural drags; polish for peak impact.SoftThe scene's design centers on closure and aftermath, using the phone call to deliver Oliver's news and the silent study/fire beats to land Elio's enduring ache. The contract of the summer's promise is honored, but pressure is mostly retrospective, and consequence is felt rather than dramatized. 6.5 9 / 8 2 / 2 7 66 7 687546777 77897




World Building
  • Physical environment: The screenplay is set in a picturesque villa in Italy, characterized by a blend of old and new elements, including refurbished rooms, a fruit orchard, and serene gardens. The villa's intimate spaces, such as Elio's bedroom and the study, create a cozy yet sophisticated atmosphere, while the surrounding countryside and small town of Crema add to the idyllic setting.
  • Culture: Cultural elements are rich and diverse, with characters speaking multiple languages, including Italian and French. The screenplay reflects Italian customs, such as family gatherings, leisurely meals outdoors, and a deep appreciation for art and music. The characters engage in intellectual discussions, showcasing a cultured lifestyle that values education and the arts.
  • Society: The societal structure depicted in the screenplay is one of privilege and sophistication, with a close-knit family dynamic. Interactions among characters reveal a sense of hierarchy and formality, particularly in the presence of guests. The screenplay also hints at traditional values, especially regarding relationships and social expectations, particularly in the context of Elio and Oliver's romance.
  • Technology: Technological elements are minimal throughout the screenplay, emphasizing a nostalgic and timeless quality. The presence of simple tools, such as bicycles and a walkman, highlights a leisurely lifestyle, while the absence of modern gadgets allows for a focus on interpersonal relationships and emotional connections.
  • Characters influence: The unique physical environment and cultural backdrop shape the characters' experiences and actions by providing a setting that fosters intimacy and exploration of emotions. The villa's serene atmosphere allows Elio and Oliver to navigate their complex feelings, while the cultural elements encourage open communication and intellectual engagement. The societal expectations create tension for Elio as he grapples with his identity and desires.
  • Narrative contribution: The world elements contribute significantly to the narrative by establishing a rich context for the characters' relationships and experiences. The villa serves as a backdrop for pivotal moments in Elio and Oliver's romance, while the cultural and societal structures create obstacles and tensions that drive the plot forward. The setting enhances the emotional stakes of their relationship, making their connection feel both urgent and poignant.
  • Thematic depth contribution: The world elements contribute to the thematic depth of the screenplay by exploring themes of love, identity, and the passage of time. The serene and picturesque environment contrasts with the characters' internal struggles, highlighting the complexities of desire and societal expectations. The cultural richness of the setting allows for a nuanced exploration of intimacy, vulnerability, and the bittersweet nature of first love, ultimately enriching the emotional resonance of the story.
Voice Analysis
Summary: The writer's voice is characterized by a subtle, nuanced exploration of complex emotions and interpersonal relationships. It prioritizes internal conflicts and unspoken tensions over overt drama. The style is intimate and introspective, employing rich descriptive language, evocative imagery, and naturalistic dialogue that reveals character through subtext and subtle gestures. A blend of intellectual discourse and playful banter further adds depth and complexity.
Voice Contribution The writer's voice contributes to the script by creating a deeply immersive and emotionally resonant experience. The focus on internal struggles and unspoken desires enhances the themes of first love, self-discovery, and the complexities of human connection. The rich descriptive language and evocative imagery create a strong sense of place and time, enhancing the mood of longing, intimacy, and bittersweet nostalgia. The naturalistic dialogue feels authentic and avoids melodrama, allowing the audience to connect with the characters on a deeply personal level.
Best Representation Scene 3 - A Quiet Dinner Invitation
Best Scene Explanation Scene 3 best encapsulates the author's voice because it perfectly balances rich descriptive language ('dimly lit Perlman villa') with subtle character interaction and unspoken emotions. The narrative description creates a strong sense of intimacy and the dialogue, though sparse, effectively conveys the awkwardness and underlying tension between Elio and Oliver, hinting at the developing relationship without resorting to overt exposition or melodrama. This subtle approach to emotional depth is a consistent hallmark of the writer's style throughout the screenplay.


Style and Similarities

The screenplay exhibits a consistent style characterized by intimate storytelling, emotional depth, and nuanced character interactions. There's a strong emphasis on exploring complex relationships, internal conflicts, and the subtle nuances of human emotions. Scenes often feature poetic dialogue and evocative visual elements, creating an emotionally resonant and introspective atmosphere. While some scenes incorporate intellectual discourse and witty banter, the prevailing tone leans towards emotional realism and vulnerability.

Style Similarities:

Writer Explanation
Luca Guadagnino Luca Guadagnino is overwhelmingly cited across numerous scene analyses (over 40 out of 60). The recurring references to his style – focusing on intimate character relationships, emotional depth, nuanced storytelling, visually stunning settings, and subtle emotional portrayals – strongly suggest his directorial/writing influence pervades the entire screenplay. The repeated comparison to his work on 'Call Me By Your Name' further reinforces this.
Call Me By Your Name (James Ivory/André Aciman) The frequent comparisons to the writing style and themes of 'Call Me By Your Name,' both the film (James Ivory's screenplay) and the novel (André Aciman's work), are almost as pervasive as the Guadagnino references. The similarities consistently highlight shared themes of desire, intimacy, self-discovery, coming-of-age experiences, and the complexities of human relationships, pointing to a clear stylistic and thematic resonance with the source material.

Other Similarities: While other screenwriters like Woody Allen, Richard Linklater, Noah Baumbach, Greta Gerwig, and Tom Stoppard are mentioned in a few analyses, their influence appears to be less pronounced and more localized to specific scenes. The screenplay seems to largely maintain a cohesive style heavily inspired by Guadagnino's work and the themes of 'Call Me By Your Name', creating a unified emotional and visual landscape across the scenes.

Top Correlations and patterns found in the scenes:

Pattern Explanation
Dialogue and Emotional Impact: A Delicate Balance Scenes with high Dialogue scores (8 or above) generally correlate with high Emotional Impact scores, except for scenes 5, 6, 9, 13, 20, 22, 24, 26, 30, 31, 34, 36, 37, 38, 42, 45, 46, 52, 53, 58 and 60. These exceptions suggest that while strong dialogue contributes to emotional impact, other factors (perhaps plot points or character actions) can create significant emotional resonance even with less impactful dialogue. Consider exploring ways to enhance the emotional punch of scenes with strong dialogue but lower emotional impact scores, possibly by focusing on character reactions or subtext.
Tone and Emotional Impact: The Power of Introspection Scenes with predominantly 'Introspective' tones tend to show a wider range of Emotional Impact scores, including both high and low values. This suggests introspection doesn't guarantee emotional depth; its effectiveness depends on the narrative execution. Conversely, scenes with more action-oriented tones ('Tense,' 'Playful,' etc.) tend to have more consistently moderate Emotional Impact scores, suggesting a need for more depth in those types of scenes.
High Stakes and Move Story Forward: A Consistent Strength Throughout the screenplay, scenes that effectively 'Move story forward' usually also have a decent 'High stakes' score. This suggests a strong narrative flow, but it might be beneficial to examine if raising the stakes in some scenes might correspondingly improve the narrative momentum.
Concept and Plot: A Strong Foundation The screenplay consistently receives high scores for both 'Concept' and 'Plot,' indicating a strong underlying narrative structure. This is a significant strength and suggests that the core idea is compellingly presented.
Character Development Clusters There are clusters of scenes with high 'Character Changes' scores (7 or above) concentrated in later parts of the screenplay, and these appear to correlate with scenes that employ 'Intimate' and 'Reflective' tones. Scenes towards the end of the screenplay might be particularly strong in character development, possibly due to increased intimacy and reflective moments that are allowing for stronger character arc. But early scenes might require more attention to character development.
Emotional Impact Dip in Mid-Story There's a noticeable dip in 'Emotional Impact' scores in the middle sections (scenes 5-14, 20-26) of the screenplay. This could indicate a potential pacing issue, a lull in character development or conflict. Re-examine this section to ensure sufficient emotional engagement during this phase of the story.
Late-Story Surge in Intimacy and High Scores The last third of the screenplay (scenes 40 onwards) features a significant increase in scenes utilizing 'Intimate' tones, frequently paired with high scores across multiple categories, notably Dialogue, Character, and overall grade. This suggests the screenplay's climax and resolution are particularly strong in terms of emotional resonance and character work. Consider if some of this intimacy and depth could be introduced earlier.
The Impact of 'Intimate' Tone The 'Intimate' tone is heavily used across many scenes with high scores, particularly those near the end. This suggests that this tone is effective in raising emotional impact, dialogue, character development and overall grade. Yet this tone is not employed in scenes with lower emotional scores. Consider the purpose of this tonal choice in each instance, whether it reflects intended story impact.


Writer's Craft Overall Analysis

The screenplay demonstrates a strong ability to create emotionally resonant scenes with authentic character interactions, particularly focusing on intimacy, vulnerability, and internal conflicts. The writer shows skill in conveying emotions through subtle gestures, dialogue, and evocative descriptions. However, there's a recurring need to deepen character development beyond emotional portrayal and to explore more varied storytelling techniques beyond dialogue-driven scenes and character interactions.

Key Improvement Areas

Character Development
Many analyses praise the emotional depth but suggest further work on character motivations and backstories. While the writer excels at portraying surface emotions, a deeper exploration of internal conflicts, desires, and the characters' past will increase the scenes' impact and believability. Expanding beyond solely relying on subtle interactions to more overtly reveal internal struggles will also help.
Dialogue and Subtext
While the dialogue is often lauded as rich, witty, or intimate, feedback consistently points toward the need to improve its subtext and unspoken emotions. The writer should strive for more nuanced dialogue that conveys more information implicitly, rather than relying solely on explicit statements. This will create more engaging and layered scenes.
Storytelling Techniques Diversification
The writer heavily relies on dialogue and character interaction to convey the story. While effective, exploring visual storytelling, narrative structure beyond simple dialogue-driven scenes, and pacing variation are crucial for developing a more versatile screenwriting style.

Suggestions

Type Suggestion Rationale
Screenplay Read and analyze 'Call Me By Your Name' (James Ivory), 'Before Sunrise' (Richard Linklater), 'Moonlight' (Barry Jenkins), 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind', and 'Lost in Translation'. These films offer diverse examples of emotional storytelling, nuanced dialogue, intimate character interactions, and different approaches to pacing and structure, addressing the key improvement areas identified. They showcase different methods of conveying internal struggles and desires, beyond simple dialogue exchanges.
Screenplay Read 'The Social Network' (Aaron Sorkin) and study how to craft intellectually stimulating and fast-paced dialogue, to contrast with the more intimate scenes. This will help diversify the writer's skills beyond focusing on emotional intimacy and incorporate other stylistic elements into their work.
Book Read 'The Screenwriter's Bible' (David Trottier) and 'The Anatomy of Story' (John Truby) to understand screenplay structure, character arcs, and storytelling techniques. These books provide foundational knowledge in screenwriting principles, helping to improve scene structure, pacing, and overall narrative coherence, which can enhance the impact of emotionally resonant scenes.
Video Watch behind-the-scenes footage and interviews for films like 'Call Me By Your Name' and 'Moonlight', paying attention to directorial choices and actor performances. This helps understand how emotions are conveyed visually and through performance beyond the page, and further supports the understanding of subtle gestures and emotional depth.

Here are different Tropes found in the screenplay

Trope Trope Details Trope Explanation
Forbidden Love
Summer Romance
Love Triangle
Coming of Age
The Usurper
Intellectual Connection
The Mentor
The Best Friend
The Secret
The Bittersweet Ending


Memorable lines in the script:

Scene Number Line
36 ELIO: I worship you.
28 Elio: Because there is no one else I can say this to but you.
59 PERLMAN: We rip out so much of ourselves to be cured of things faster, that we go bankrupt by the age of thirty and have less to offer each time we start with someone new.
20 ELIO: All I had to do was find the courage to reach out and touch, she would have said yes.
14 Oliver: Does this make any sense to you? Not to me. Nor to your dad.
Some Loglines to consider:

A transformative summer romance unfolds between a seventeen-year-old and his father's charming guest, leaving an indelible mark on their lives.
In the sun-drenched Italian countryside, a shy teenager experiences a life-altering first love that challenges his perceptions of self and the world.
A passionate summer fling between a young man and his older guest leaves an enduring impact on both their lives, forever changing their perspectives on love and self-discovery.
Against the backdrop of 1980s Italy, the delicate dance of unspoken desires and fleeting passion unfolds between two young men, forever altering their paths.
A coming-of-age story set amidst the beauty of the Italian landscape explores the intoxicating power of first love, the uncertainty of youth, and the bittersweet ache of what might have been.
A young man's summer of self-discovery and first love is tested when he falls for his father's 25-year-old summer intern in 1980s Italy.
In a transformative summer in 1980s Italy, a 17-year-old boy navigates the complexities of his burgeoning sexuality and the profound impact of his relationship with his father's summer intern.
Elio, a precocious teenager, experiences the joys and heartaches of first love when he falls for Oliver, his father's academic intern, in the sun-drenched Italian countryside.
A coming-of-age drama about a young man's journey of self-discovery and the bittersweet nature of a summer romance that forever changes his life.
In 1980s Italy, a sensitive teenager's world is upended when he embarks on a secret relationship with his father's charming and enigmatic summer intern.
In the summer of 1983, a young boy discovers love and heartbreak during a passionate affair with a visiting scholar in Italy.
Set against the backdrop of a sun-soaked Italian villa, a teenage boy navigates the complexities of first love and self-discovery.
A summer romance blossoms between a 17-year-old and his father's research assistant, challenging their identities and desires.
As the summer heat intensifies, so does the emotional connection between a boy and a man, leading to a transformative experience.
In a tale of longing and loss, a young man reflects on a fleeting summer romance that forever alters his understanding of love.

Help & FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Start with the executive summary to get a bird's eye view.
After that, the high-level menu will offer insights into the story, themes, and characters.
The scene-by-scene analysis will demonstrate how each scene performs across various criteria, summarized in the column headings.
Click on any scene title to view the full analysis, including critiques and suggestions for improvement.
'Other Analyses' provides various insights into your writing and different perspectives, although it might not lead to significant rewrites of your script.

Click on the Print Analysis link in the left menu. You can then print to PDF or save it as PDF.

Click the Scene Analysis link on the left menu. Next to each scene title you can click "improve". In the improve page you can select any scene from your script to work on.

Yes. You own the rights to your script. We do not claim any ownership of your script. We're simply using it to generate the analysis.

No. We do not use your script to train our AI. The AI uses your script to generate the analysis and nothing else.

SceneProv is a game that helps you improve your craft.
You can play it for free. If you have scripts analyzed, the AI might recommend exercises from SceneProv to help you improve your writing. Go to the craft tab to see what it recommended.
Let the AI take a turn when you're blocked or you want to riff on a scene. Each scene you create in SceneProv gets graded at the end.

The maximum length of a screenplay is 160 pages.

Unfortunately it's a known issue for the time being. Fixing this is on the roadmap.

If you're having trouble uploading your script, please email us at '[email protected]'

The goal of ScriptReader.ai is not 100% comprehension, but rather to assist you in improving your script and craft. The valuable insights should still be many. ScriptReader.ai is a tool with a bit of getting used to. We're trying to make the learning curve as easy as possible. If you have any suggestions, please email us at [email protected]

Two common issues are:
- The email might have gone to your spam folder or is hidden in an email thread.
- The process might still be ongoing. Register/Login with the email you used during upload and look at the status. It sometimes takes as long as a couple hours. If it's been longer than that email us at [email protected]

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