The film brings up a great deal of complexities and ambiguities, but it's important to note that the relationship in the film is entirely consensual, and it falls within the allowable ages of consent for the place and time in which it is happening. Those two facts are different from all of the situations we've been reading about with politicians et al.
In terms of sexual mores, the location of the film is very important, as it reflects more liberal (or adult) views of sexuality and relationships relative to the more conservative (or prudish/fearful) views in America. Yes, this relationship would be condemned in many parts of the States, but that just speaks to our puritanical attitudes, rather than an abject moral wrong. If Elio was 15, we'd be having a different discussion, but the film paints him as a young man who is entering adulthood, and Oliver - who has some sort of delayed adolescence going on - is a part of that initiation.
I appreciate that the film lets these moral questions hang in the air - much like with "Doubt", we're left to debate these amongst ourselves, rather than having the answer handed to us. I wish more plays were achieving this feat. |
