Jonnie Mills | Staff Writer
July 14, 2023
Is it better to speak or to die?
Annella Pearlman
These words that are spoken by Elio’s mother leaves many viewers pondering the same question: Is it better to speak or to die? The words carry a lot of weight for certain viewers, especially those of the LGBT+ community. People of the community constantly ponder whether to “risk it” and be their true selves, or whether they should stay quiet and stay the same. Whether a person should be their most authentic self can be a scary thing to think about. It can leave them with more questions about themselves than answers.
Elio is faced with this same internal struggle when Oliver arrives. He starts to wonder if he should confess his feelings for him, or play it safe and not mention anything: Whether to speak or to die? Elio ponders this question for a good portion of the film (and book), before he inevitably decides it’s better to speak. This sparks Elio and Oliver’s beautiful romance that’s admired by many viewers.
The film hits close to home for many who have had to go through similar struggles of; is it better to speak or to die? A lot of viewers have to face the same battles just because they’re a part of the LGBT+ community. They’re in a constant limbo when it comes to loving who they love. They have to decide whether they want to speak up and find out if their interest loves them the same, or whether to never say anything and “play it safe.”
Call Me By Your Name is one of the best LGBT+ coming of age films that shows the love, the heartbreak, and the struggles of being a part of the LGBT+ youth. Elio greatly portrays the emotions that can come with being a young person questioning their sexuality, and that’s why this has to be one of my number one movie pick. It makes you think deeply about the question no matter if it refers to love, sexuality, or even just a crush. So what do you think? Is it better to speak or to die?
