Based on the semi-autobiographical novel by William S. Burroughs, director Luca Guadagnino’s latest film “Queer” brings a hauntingly poetic story to life, starring Daniel Craig as the author’s alter ego. Premiering at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2024, where it competed for the Golden Lion, “Queer” has already generated international interest and will be released in German cinemas in January 2025.

Set in the early 1950s, the story follows William Lee, an American who flees to Mexico City to escape the restrictions of post-war America. Haunted by addiction and grappling with his own identity, Lee spends his nights in Mexico’s cantinas and vibrant queer scene, finding a paradise of sorts where he can live unrestrained. Dressed in white linen suits and a fedora, he moves through the city’s underbelly with a sense of detachment until he meets Eugene Allerton, a former soldier who quickly becomes the object of his intense affection. Despite their romantic encounters, their relationship is tangled and transactional, with Eugene accepting gifts in exchange for companionship.

The journey takes a darker turn when Lee and Eugene embark on an expedition to South America, lured by the mysterious yagé plant that grows deep in the Ecuadorian jungle. The two visit Dr. Cotter, an American botanist who introduces them to the drug and forces Lee to confront the limits of both his addiction and his love.

Burroughs wrote “Queer” as a sequel to his earlier novel Junkie, although it was not published until 1985.

Guadagnino’s adaptation captures not only the restless, yearning spirit of Burroughs’ narrative, but also the tension and complexity of desire amid self-destruction, making “Queer” an unforgettable cinematic experience.