Can a genuine connection go beyond lust and longing? “Queer” sees two men discover something more beneath the usual facades. Luca Guadagnino helms this anticipated film based on a short novel by counter-culture legend William S. Burroughs. The “Challengers” director reunites with screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes, who wrote the popular tennis drama. This time, Kuritzkes offers a script that ventures well beyond Burroughs’ original story.
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“Queer” features a pair of talented performers as William Lee and Eugene Allerton. Daniel Craig stars as Lee, a role far removed from his days as James Bond. His ability to navigate Lee’s complexities once again shows he is more than capable of challenging roles. Drew Starkey more than holds his own with his accomplished co-star. The actor’s credits include the Netflix series “Outer Banks,” which drew raves for his approach to Allerton. The Playlist’s Marshall Shaffer called Starkey “the film’s true revelation” after the Venice Film Festival screening. “He constructs Allerton as possessing something akin to Schrödinger’s sexuality with his ability to reflect exactly what an observer wants to see,” Shaffer wrote.
The film’s official synopsis:
In 1950s Mexico City, William Lee (Daniel Craig), an American ex-pat in his late forties, leads a solitary life amidst a small American community. The arrival in town of Eugene Allerton, a young student, stirs William into finally establishing a meaningful connection with someone.
Lesley Manville, Jason Schwartzman, Henrique Zaga, and Omar Apollo also star in “Queer.” The film opens in limited release on November 27 via A24. Get your first look at the trailer below.
