Release Date: 2024
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Writers: William S. Burroughs (based on the novel by), Justin Kuritzkes (screenplay)
Producers: Frenesy Film Company, The Apartment, FremantleMedia North America
Cinematography: Sayombhu Mukdeeprom
Music: Devonté Hynes
Editing: Walter Fasano
Runtime: 2 hours 31 minutes
Sound mix: Dolby Digital
Filming locations: Cinecittà Studios, Rome, Italy
Story
Luca Guadagnino’s film Queer (2024) is a sumptuous, reflective drama that takes place in Mexico City in the 1960s and features vibrant scenery. Daniel Craig plays Lee in the movie, a multifaceted person navigating a life full of desire and uncertainty. As he reflects on his interactions with American expatriates, college students, and neighborhood bar owners—all of whom are making ends meet with part-time work and the GI Bill—Lee’s story comes to life.
In addition to being a search for self, Lee’s journey is an infatuation with a young man played by Drew Starkey, Allerton. Adelbert Lewis Marker, a man renowned for his mysterious presence and influence, is the loose model for Allerton’s character. The movie explores the depths of Lee’s emotional and psychological obsession with Allerton.
Plot Summary
Queer, which is set in the colorful but turbulent years following World War II, centers on Lee (Daniel Craig), an American expat who lives in Mexico City. Lee, a former soldier, makes ends meet by working part-time jobs and using his GI Bill benefits. He also manages the intricate and frequently unstable social dynamics of living abroad.
When Lee develops feelings for Allerton (Drew Starkey), a young man modeled after Adelbert Lewis Marker, his life takes a dramatic turn. Lee develops an obsession with Allerton, a fascinating and captivating individual. While pursuing Allerton, Lee describes his encounters with a variety of American expatriates, such as bar owners and college students, who are all juggling their own goals and challenges.
Lee’s story explores themes of love, desire, addiction, and the search for one’s identity in a foreign country throughout the whole movie. Mexico City, a vibrant and dynamic city full of contradictions and life, provides a vibrant backdrop against which his relationship with Allerton plays out. Lee’s quest is a moving examination of the human condition as well as a voyage of self-discovery.
Main Cast
Daniel Craig as Lee: An American expatriate recounting his tumultuous life in Mexico City.
Lesley Manville as Joan: A bar owner and confidante of Lee.
Jason Schwartzman as Tom Williams: An expatriate college student and friend of Lee.
Drew Starkey as Allerton: The young man who becomes the object of Lee’s obsession.
Henrique Zaga as Winston Moor: Another expatriate trying to find his way in Mexico City.
David Lowery as Colin Bates: A fellow expatriate with a complex relationship with Lee.
Omar Apollo as John Dume: A local musician who befriends Lee.
Drew Droege as Ariel Schulman: A colorful character in the expatriate community.
Lorenzo Pozzan as Tom Weston: A struggling artist and expatriate.
Lisandro Alonso as Dr. Hernández: A doctor who becomes entangled in Lee’s life.
Ford Leland as Simon Rizzoni: The bartender who listens to Lee’s stories.
