"Call Me by Your Name" Author André Aciman - A "Jew of Discretion" Struggles with Sephardic Identity

Jonah Platt sits down with celebrated author André Aciman, the literary voice behind the beloved novel Call Me By Your Name, in this intimate and illuminating conversation. Known for his lyrical prose and deep explorations of longing, identity, and exile, Aciman opens up about his Sephardic Jewish heritage, his family's displacement from Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Spain, and the Dalmatian Coast, and how a lifelong sense of otherness has shaped his storytelling. Together, they dive into the emotional layers of young love, memory, and spiritual yearning that define Aciman’s most iconic works. He also shares behind-the-scenes insights into his latest book, Room on the Sea, and teases what’s next in his creative journey. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to his world, this episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt offers a rare glimpse into the mind of one of our most thoughtful contemporary writers. Subscribe 👍 Like, 💬 Comment, and 🔔 Hit the bell to stay updated. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 01:07 Sephardic Jewish Heritage 02:47 Life in Egypt 06:13 Jewish Identity and Observance 15:18 Expulsion and Relocation 19:28 Call Me By Your Name: Creation and Impact 27:18 Reflecting on Leisure and Summer Memories 28:52 Exploring the Concept of Home 30:04 Views on Israel and Jewish Identity 34:14 Writing and Literary Themes 38:00 Family and Jewish Traditions 41:19 Addressing Antisemitism 45:24 Upcoming Projects and Personal Insights 52:08 Final Thoughts and Farewell Host & Production Team Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editors: Patrick Edwards & Nathan Wheatley); Consulting Producer: Bethany Mandel; Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Creative Associate: Rachel Stern; Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Graphic Designer Noah Bell MENTIONED IN EPISODE: Sign Up For “One Mitzvah A Day” https://onemitzvahaday.com/ Subscribe to Jonah Platt’s Newsletter https://www.jonahplatt.com/ Jews of Discretion by Andre Aciman https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/… Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman https://a.co/d/7fLAEs2 Preorder Room on The Sea by Andre Aciman https://a.co/d/hc4Cigo History of Jewish Expulsion from the Middle East & North Africa https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/the-expulsion… #andreaciman #jonahplatt #beingjewish #beingjewishwithjonahplatt #callmebyyourname #podcast #youtubepodcast #jewishpodcast #jewishculture #interview #jewishauthors