A24 Films has unveiled the trailer for “Queer,” a new movie based on William Burroughs’ semi-autobiographical novel. The film stars Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey and was directed by Luca Guadagnino. Guadagnino is known for movies like “Call Me By Your Name” and “Challengers.”
“Queer” takes place in 1940s Mexico City and follows the story of William Lee, an American man living abroad. Lee leads a solitary life among other expatriates and local bar owners. This changes when he meets Eugene Allerton, a former sailor struggling with drug addiction. Lee grows obsessed with Allerton, who is at first indifferent. Their relationship develops as Allerton slowly becomes more involved with the persistent Lee.
The film competed at several festivals this year, including the Venice Film Festival where it was considered for the top Golden Lion prize. It also screened at the Toronto and New York Film Festivals. Other cast members include Jason Schwartzman, Lesley Manville, and Omar Apollo.
Guadagnino has called “Queer” a deeply personal project about finding recognition through another person. He used William Burroughs’ life as a template to explore this theme. Reviews have praised Craig’s performance, noting he avoids simply mimicking Burroughs. Critics say Craig crafts a bold, funny, and alive portrayal of the author in his younger days.
“Queer” continues A24’s trend of pushing boundaries. It is the latest challenging film released through the studio. The movie also marks Guadagnino’s further examination of complex relationships, following previous successes like “Call Me By Your Name” and “Challengers.”
