[Quick Summary: In 1980s Italy, a 17 y.o. boy falls in love for the first time with the family's summer lodger, an American male graduate student.]
Though I'm only halfway through, I am quite impressed with the level of difficulty of the Oscar scripts this year. *
Today's script is quite a high wire act:
1) It's an effective, slow burn drama, AND
2) It shows what a 17 y.o.'s journey through awkwardness feels like, AND
3) It happens during every day life. There is no "grand crisis" that speeds things up, i.e., no guns, violence, car crash, death, etc.
This script is unusual in that it makes you FEEL Elio's awkwardness through contrasting behaviors (Elio vs. others).
In the scene below, notice:
- Elio is the only one who is unsure and who is not relaxed.
- The other characters may feel that way too, but handle it differently because: a) they're older, and b) have more life experience.
- Even Oliver is not rattled, though he does not know what to do with the egg at first. He catches on faster than Elio does.
ex. "EXT. GARDEN IN FRON OF THE KITCHEN - PERLMAN VILLA - DAY
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 he pretends to busy himself with his coffee and pushes the egg in its cup away. MAFALDA asks him if he would like juice. He says "Please". She looks down at the discarded egg.
MAFALDA: Lasci fare a me, Signore. (Let me)
She slices the top off and returns to her kitchen.
ANNELLA: Did you recover from your trip, caro?
OLIVER: Big time.
ELIO, who has been trying not to stare at their guest and is concentrating on spreading honey on a piece of bread, now lifts his head and speaks, growing unnaturally loud:
ELIO: I can show you around.
OLIVER: Good. Are we far from town? I need to open a bank account.
Both Professor PERLMAN and ANNELLA look up, interested.
PERLMAN (smiling): None of our residents has ever had a local bank account.
Elio turns in his seat to get a better view of Oliver, who is sitting beside him.
ELIO: Should I take him to Montodine?
PERLMAN: I'm think they're closed for summer vacation. Try Crema.
OLIVER: Is that your orchard?
PERLMAN: Pesca, ciliege, albicooche...(peaches, cherries, apricots...)
ANNELLA: Pomegranate.
MAFALDA returns with a pitcher of apricot juice on a little tray and proceeds to fill Oliver's glass. OLIVER tastes it, then enthusiastically downs it. ELIO realizes he is staring at OLIVER, his head tipped back with his throat swallowing the juice, and notices the Star of David on a necklace around his neck. OLIVER smacks his lips and begins to eat his second egg, giving it a sharp crack. MAFALDA brings him a third egg.
ANNELLA (CONT'D): Have another egg.
OLIVER (shaking his head): I know myself. If I have three, I'll have a fourth, and more.
ELIO has never heard someone Oliver's age say, I know myself. It's somewhat intimidating. He lowers his eyes."
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I liked that awkwardness was shown in behavior here, rather relying on dialogue to express it.
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
by James Ivory
Adapted from the novel by Andre Aciman
*In the five years that I've read all the nominated Oscar scripts, this year's group of competitors are the strongest that I've seen.
No comments:
Post a Comment