Just finished the book, and I couldn't help but teared up even though I am sitting in a public library. There was no cheesy death or accidents, but the ending hurts in such a beautiful and gut wrenching way.
Armie said that ending in the movie was different but even better than the book's.
I don't know how that is possible, unless...
they did not changed the ending instead they cut the book. In the movie there was no passage of time instead it focuses on Elio and Oliver's affair during that summer till it ends with a phone call. I think it's safe to say that what happened in the book beyond that point will also happen in the movie although it was not included.
shareThanks for the info. I kind of understand why Oliver chose the path he took in the book, this was in the 80s. Had they met in the current era, do you think Oliver would have made a different choice?
shareOkay, I really love this book and will try to coherrently explain my thoughts on your question with 3 hours of sleep. For me, It's really hard to say but there are some informations in the book that will help us theorize. You have to remember that Oliver was an upcoming proffesor who had no homosexual leanings before he met Elio and Elio is the 17 year old son of his boss, that would really be a scandal in a small town in Catholic Italy if the story broke out. Yes, the people are more tolerant with homsexuality today and Elio's parents are liberal but the given circumstances would ruin Oliver's reputation in the academic world. Oliver also didn't have much when growing up and was described as self-made in the book and was trying to reconcile his newfound feelings with his ambition in life. This was hinted when he said to Elio that "For you however you think of it, it's still fun and games, which it should be. For me it's something else which I havent figured out, and the fact that I can't scares me". Elio can afford to be careless because he's young while Oliver can't because he is already in that stage of his life where he needs to make crucial decisions for his future. I think if you replace the characters with heterosexual couples the story will still be as effective. The whole point of the story is love that can't be and how it turned out with passage of time (proust) and I think it's beautiful because we can all relate with it.
shareThanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree with most of it. However, I don't think we know this as a fact:
Oliver was an upcoming professor who had no homosexual leanings before he met Elio and Elio is the 17 year old son of his boss,My impression is he was probably a gay man in the closet or at least bi. He mentioned in the book: "I have been good so far..." He never acted on his feelings because he was fully aware of the social expectations.
I always thought I've been good so far was always a reference to not taking advantage of his boss's son who he's grown fond of and not "corrupt" him (in the thought of that era), not necessarily trying to give into homosexual desire. I don't think any of them were ever uncomfortable with that part of it. It was more to me that Oliver had this track in life, he couldn't just stay in Italy and had to go back home, and it was there he met his wife and that was that. Despite the era, I don't think any of them would have been ashamed to come out, but their relationship just couldn't work due to forces of time and place. So, I don't think the story would have ended any differently in the present.
shareInteresting to hear your thoughts. I can't say I agree though. I believe their relationship would have a shot in today's environment and Oliver is very likely closeted.