Originally written in 1952 but first published in 1985 because of its raw and detailed depiction of homosexual desire, William S. Burroughs' novel Queer was revolutionary. A sort of sequel to another trailblazing piece, Junkie, the author’s novel followed his alter ego, Lee, across the so-called ‘interzone’ (an undefined area that extended from Mexico City to Panama), where he meets Allerton, a young guy that becomes his instant crush. Translating such an important literary work into images isn’t an easy feat, but director Luca Guadagnino has taken on the challenge to do it. And so far, the audience and the critics seem satisfied with it. Today, the official trailer has dropped, so check it out.
After an incredibly successful career composed of movies like Suspiria, Call Me by Your Name, and Challengers, Guadagnino’s meteoric rise to stardom isn’t stopping any time soon. His sensitivity and approach to portraying the complexities of human relationships have turned him into one of this generation’s favourite filmmakers. With Queer, he made the bold decision to adapt another novel (just like Call Me by Your Name), only this time, it’s by one of the most respected contemporary American writers who, together with Jack Kerouack and Allen Ginsberg (and others), opened new ways of writing and, more importantly, to understand literature.
Co-starring Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey, and with the screenplay written by Justin Kuritzkes, Queer focuses on William Lee as he escapes from the United States to establish himself in Mexico City, where he falls in love with the elusive, mysterious yet charming Eugene Allerton, who welcomes him into the city and also shows him that becoming intimate and fulfilling his desire is possible.
