Interview with Call Me by Monet

Small pennies, quick gestures, short, intense but rich in color as a sweet youthful love. One of the most beautiful stories of the cinema bears the title of Call me by your name, Oliver and Elio, two young people ready to discover a feeling, but above all themselves through the fusion of one in the other . A young Instagram profile, @cmbynmonet, celebrates all this using as filter nothing less than the touch of one of the most beloved painters in the history of art: Monet. The film's short frames are surrounded by flowers and colors landscapes.

Are you curious? Discover with us Call Me by Monet.

#1 Let's talk about @cmbynmonet: where does this project come from and who’s behind it? 

Call Me by Monet is a passion project that I started in late January. This project stemmed from my love for the novel and film. I found everything about it breathtakingly beautiful from the visuals to the story. Me and my friend, Anne Santos, manages the accounts (both Twitter and Instagram). I edit the photos and she helps me with all stuff such as choosing the best photos to pos when to post it and other stuff like that. She’s like the social media manager of this project and I am the one who makes all the art.

#2 Why do you choose Call Me by Your Name? What has it of special compared to other films that talk about young love, crazy but at the same time carefree?  

I chose Call Me By Your Name because I was swept away by the story.
When I finished reading the novel, I had this urge to read it again and again. And every time I read it, I felt so much and so deeply with Elio and Oliver’s love for each other. I would feel the bliss and the pain of first love all over again. Then when I got to watch the film I was knocked on my feet again for seeing the story right in front of my eyes. It is just so beautiful. I guess what made it special is the way they were so open about their feelings for each other regardless of their gender. Unlike any other films about young love of homosexuals, this film/story never made it an issue. They treated love as love and nothing else.
For me, it meant that everyone deserves to love and be loved regardless of who you are.

#3 How is the artist Monet, with his quick and colorful brushstrokes, connected to Elio and Oliver’s story? 

Since the book had the chapter called "Monet's Berm" which was the place where the painter used to paint and Elio's favorite place. I’ve always imagined it to be surrounded by lush green trees that can be seen in some of Monet's paintings. Then when I saw the film, I realized how similar the setting of the film from the paintings so that's when I started experimenting with the film stills and paintings.

#4 You have conquered more than 20 thousand followers on Instagram in a relatively short time and lots of people showed interest in your project...did you expect all this success? 

I didn't! It was just something I did as an expression for my love for the film and I am surprised that so many people are getting into it. I guess people liked it because, like me, they also saw the similarities of Monet’s paintings to the film.
And also who wouldn’t love a masterpiece on a masterpiece? 

#5 Are you planning to replicate this format with other movies and other artists? 

I have no plans of doing that yet as of the moment. But I sure will continue this if ever the sequel will come out.

#6 A comment about Call Me Be Your Name’s failed Oscar?

To be honest, I was devastated when Timothée Chalamet didn't win Best Actor and for Mystery of Love as Best Original Song. I was really rooting for them to win because I thought Timothée really did a great job portraying Elio. And for Mystery of Love, I think it is such a wonderful song that fit perfectly in the film! I still get goosebumps whenever I listen to it. I’m happy that Mr. James Ivory won for Best Adapted Screenplay, though. He deserved it!