Coming of Age Realism

Guadagnino wants us to make the connection between this facet of Elio’s personality and the music we hear during the film’s more emotional sequences. The piano acts as a window into the stoic teenager. He watches Oliver from afar, and the piano flutters excitedly; he wonders where Oliver ran off to, and it skips around restlessly; Oliver leaves a little note for Elio on his desk, and the piano begins to soar. It served as Elio’s primary source of expression as a teenager. He discovers large parts of himself to the sound of its beautiful chords. Guadagnino’s score provides valuable character insight, and it adds to the fantastical ambiance we get from the film’s visual elements.