<P> The film differs from its source material in a number of ways . While the novel serves as a memory - piece from Elio's perspective, the filmmakers set the movie entirely in the present timeline, a "much more efficient" solution, to help the audience understand the characters and "reflect the essence of the book". The setting was changed from Bordighera to the countryside of Crema, Lombardy, where Guadagnino lives . He changed the year of the events from 1987 to 1983--a year in which he said, "in Italy at least, when everything that was great about the' 70s is definitely shut down", and one in which the characters "are in a way untouched by the corruption of the' 80s--in the U.S., (Ronald) Reagan, and in the UK, (Margaret) Thatcher". Ivory altered Mr. Perlman's profession from a classics scholar to "an art historian / archeologist type". </P> <P> Guadagnino was tempted to remove the scene from the novel in which Elio masturbates into a pitted peach, which he thought was a metaphor for "sexual impulses and energy", and that it was too explicit . Timothée Chalamet was also nervous about the scene, describing it as the key to illuminating the character's "overabundant sexual energy". Despite their reservations, Guadagnino and Chalamet each tested the method by themselves and both agreed it worked so it was included in the film . A scene featuring Elio and Oliver dancing enthusiastically to The Psychedelic Furs' song "Love My Way" in a small bar is not drawn from the book but was inspired by Guadagnino's experience of dancing by himself when he was young . </P> <P> When he was revising Ivory's draft of the script, Guadagnino removed the voice - over narration and a considerable amount of nudity . The director did not like the idea of having the main character tell the story retrospectively, stating that "it kills the surprise". Towards the end of the novel, the two protagonists visit Rome together; the trip lasts an entire chapter and introduces new characters in multiple locations . Because of the film's limited budget, Ivory and the producers wrote several variations, introducing the idea of having the lead characters left alone in the house; this was changed into another trip in which they spend time alone together . In his original script's final scene, Ivory depicted Elio decorating a Christmas tree in his family's home . Ivory had to reduce the length of Mr. Perlman's speech but was committed to keeping it in the script . He described the scene in which Elio conveys his feelings to Oliver as one of the story's most important moments that captures the "euphoric passion and nervousness" of their first love . </P> <P> In 2015, Shia LaBeouf and Greta Scacchi were reportedly set to be cast in the film . In September 2016, Ivory confirmed they were no longer involved in the project . LaBeouf had read for the film in New York City but the production company later felt he was unsuitable because of his "various troubles"; although Ivory thought Scacchi and LeBeouf "had good scenes together" and could have made it into the film, the company disagreed . </P>

Where was call me bu your name filmed