“Call Me by Your Name” The most beautiful phrase shines even brighter when it becomes the Japanese title.

What masterpiece was considered “Towering Inferno”?

Conditions vary depending on the work, but basically when a Japanese distribution company decides on a Japanese title, approval is required from the studio or creator in the home country. At that time, if the meaning has to be changed significantly, we explain the intention to make it easier to sell in Japan and get people to understand. It is not possible to give a title that significantly deviates from the theme of the work that the director or producer was aiming for, and there are many cases in which titles have been rejected.

The reason why there are so few perfectly literal translations (D) in recent years is probably because literal translation titles tend to be ``purely Japanese'', and in the case of action movies, for example, they tend to lose their novelty and sharpness. This trend began in the 1970s, when `` The Towering Inferno '', which was initially considered to have a literal Japanese title of ``Towering Inferno'', became a huge hit when it was released in the original katakana version. By the way, after the movie was released, one of the two original novels of the same work was published under the title ``Towering Inferno''.

Unlike action blockbusters, love stories and human dramas that appeal to emotion still often have titles written only in Japanese. Regarding the decision on the Japanese title for ``Call Me by Your Name,'' the distribution company said, ``The literal translation, such as ``Call Me By Your Name,'' or ``Call Me by Your Name,'' has a slightly different pattern. The staff unanimously agreed on ``Call Me by Your Name,'' and we couldn't think of any other title.''

“Call Me by Your Name” ©Frenesy, La Cinefacture

This is an extremely rare case among perfect literal translation (D) patterns, where a sentence is used as the title, such as in ``Gone with the Wind''. In the world of movies, where there are many titles that aim to make an impression through physical expression, if you get into the movie well, it leaves a strong impression on you. ``Call Me by Your Name'', like ``Gone with the Wind,'' is not very clear what it means just by hearing the title. It's sure to stimulate your imagination. Then, when they actually see the work, they understand its deep meaning. It may seem like a simple translation, but the beauty of the words blends with the lingering sound of the work, making it a successful example of the wonderful chemistry that has been achieved.

One more thing. At the end of the movie, a line uttered by a person who has been watching over the love between the two main characters cuts deeper than ``Call Me by Your Name.'' Since it is a depiction of the climax, I will not mention it here, but the important theme of this work is contained here, and it becomes an unforgettable word even more than the title, and it immerses you in the afterglow of the work.

Text: Hiroaki Saito

Became freelance in 1997, contributing movie reviews and interview articles to various media such as movie magazines, theater pamphlets, and movie sites. The column is constantly updated on Yahoo! News. Star Channel's program "GO! Theater" introduces the latest released works.

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"Call Me by Your Name"

April 27th (Friday), TOHO Cinemas Chante and others nationwide roadshow

Distribution: Phantom Film

Provided by: Culture Publishers/Phantom Film

©Frenesy, La Cinefacture