Opening 2 Jan 2025
Directed by:
Luca Guadagnino
Writing credits:
William S. Burroughs, Justin Kuritzkes
Principal actors:
Daniel Craig, Daan de Wit, Jason Schwartzman, Henrique Zaga, Colin Bates
It’s the 1950s and William Lee (Daniel Craig) has moved from the US to Mexico City, a better home for him, being addicted to drugs. Here he is attracted to young Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey). Not surprisingly this turns into sex. “Queers can’t keep it on the basis of friendship.” The queer bar, Ship Ahoy, is a major meeting place, where they also see friends Joe and Dumé. Eugene is also often seen in the company of a girl, Mary. “I’m not queer; I’m disembodied.” William is financially secure, supporting all of Eugene’s demands. Their friendship allows for independence. Already addicted to cocaine and heroin, William sets off for Quito, Ecuador, in the hopes of finding a plant called yage, which influences thought control and causes one to experience telepathy. Eugene goes to Salina, Italy.
Queer is based on a book by William S. Burroughs, written in 1951-53 and finally published in 1985. The film is divided into four “chapters.” In Chapter 1 William and Eugene become acquainted. In Chapter 2 they begin their travels, which in Chapter 3 eventually end in a jungle. Chapter 4 is an epilogue featuring their lives two years later. Drugs play a major role. A typewriter, as well as guns, are featured; the guys also like to read books. Naturally, sex plays a major role, and thirty-one-year-old actor Drew Starkey is very good-looking with or without his clothes on. Queer premiered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. I am surprised that it didn’t show at Hamburg’s Queer Film Festival, where it would have been perfect. (Becky Tan)
