Opening film of the 37th edition of image+nation, Queer reveals the admiration of Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name) for the vision of cult writer William S. Burroughs: the desire for experimentation, the merging of bodies and finally finding a way to connect with others in a deep way. Authentically bizarre, the film is respectful of the spirit of the book while adding a third part that Burroughs himself would surely not deny.
Because the hero of Queer is called Lee, like the character in Junkie (the first novel of William S. Burroughsthat he had originally used the pseudonym William Lee). The autobiographical nature of the story is therefore anchored in reality, especially since we know that Burroughs spent the end of the 1940s in Mexico, like his hero. But in Burroughs, as in this film, fantasy sometimes takes over reality. Not surprising, as Queer is the hallucinatory story of a wandering, of an unhappiness which has as a backdrop a Mexico with its haunting sun, its expanses of corrugated iron and all its picturesque fauna.
When the story begins, Lee wanders from bar to bar, drowning his despair in alcohol, in flirting, both greedy and indifferent, like a specter on whom we constantly feel the threat of dissolution hanging over him. . His only reference is Allerton, a very handsome young man, indolent and jealous of his independence, but also secretly flattered to be the object of Lee’s lust. Through seduction, thoughtfulness and tenacity, Lee achieves his goals and accompanies his companion on a strange expedition across South America in search of a mysterious drug, known for its telepathic powers.
Queer is halfway between biography and fiction, between this world and a distant world. It’s an invitation not to be afraid to take a powerful aphrodisiac, in this case cinema, and let yourself be overwhelmed by its effects.
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Director Luca Guadagnino responded to some of our questions regarding Queer…
Is it true that your journey with Queer began when you read the book at
l’adolescence ?
Luca Guadagnino: Yes, I’m not particularly original. I discovered the very
inspiring William S. Burroughslike many other adolescents. What’s more interesting to me is that once I read the book, I discovered the name and found a kind of iconicity in the name that led me to dig deep the world of Burroughs. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that I’ve been thinking about Burroughs, searching for Burroughs, and paraphrasing William Burroughs my whole life. He is one of my greatest inspirations, one of my true imagery supports on which I can try to climb the very steep wall of creativity.
The Queer book is not finished according to its own author. Can you describe to us
how did you come to envision the third act of the film?
Luca Guadagnino: The screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes and I wanted to find a way to create a third act in the spirit of Burroughs that was deeply faithful to the book. In the book, the main characters, Lee and Allerton, meet Doctor Cotter, and they do not receive the ayahuasca they are looking for. We asked ourselves, “And if they finally managed to get it, where would that leave them?” »
More importantly, we talked about how the film wasn’t a story of Lee’s unrequited love for Allerton, but a love story. I didn’t want to tell a story of unrequited love. It’s a universal story about love, and how people can reciprocate love, or the tragedy of not being in the same place at the same time, but nevertheless both being in love. Lee loves Allerton, Allerton loves Lee, and they will manage to meet despite all the missteps and fears that act on them both in their picaresque journey through South America as projected by Burroughs’s mind.
What tone did you want to give to the film?
Luca Guadagnino: What I know now about Burroughs is that he was very shy and that Queer was not published for over 35 years after it was written, partly because the book was too close to him, showing that he was a fragile soul in search of love, which we do not associate with his literary image. That’s why Justin, Daniel, Drew and I thought this book should be interpreted as a love story. It would have been too easy to make the tone dry, ironic, sarcastic and detached. The story is therefore transformed, but in the same spirit.
What made Daniel Craig your choice to play the character of
William Lee ?
Luca Guadagnino: I know that Daniel is one of the great actors of his generation. And when I met him, I discovered a very warm man. I love that Daniel and I have formed and developed a great friendship. I knew from the beginning that Daniel’s commitment was complete and total, and that he also understood the depth of what needed to be brought out on screen for Lee’s character. I think what he did with the vulnerability and candor of William Lee’s character is amazing.
Drew Starkey plays Eugene Allerton. How did you discover it? Daniel Craig
Did he also have a say in the casting of Allerton?
Luca Guadagnino: Once I found my film partner to play Lee, in Daniel, it was obvious to me that the process of finding Allerton had to involve Daniel. I was given a recording of Drew Starkey for another project, and I saw something surprisingly engaging and beautiful. I immediately showed it to Daniel, who agreed with me. We then watched hundreds of other actor tapes, and then, around three hundred years in, we said, “There’s really no need to look any further, because it’s Drew.” »
INFO | QUEER by Luca Guadagnino, in original English version, United States and Italy, 2024
The film will be presented in Quebec premiere as part of the opening of the image+nation Festival, next Thursday, November 20, in the original English version.
Image+nation takes place from November 20 to 30, 2024, in 6 cinemas in Montreal and partially virtually (mainly for people who are in Quebec). For more information on each of the films or to purchase tickets to attend the image+nation festival in person or watch certain films virtually, visit the image+nation 2024 festival website.
TO VIEW THE FESTIVAL SCHEDULE, CLICK HERE.
PLACES DE PROJECTION
• Cinema JA DeSève from Concordia University at 1400 boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest (Guy-Concordia metro station)
• Centre PHI at 407 rue Saint-Pierre, Montreal, QC H2Y 2M3 (Metro Square Victoria-OACI)
• Jean-Claude Lauzon projection room (J-S1430) | UQAM, 1564 rue Saint-Denis, Montréal Québec H2X 3K2 (Metro Berri-UQAM) ENTRANCES | weekend · weekend | Metro Berri-UQAM 1400 rue Berri, Montreal QC H2L 2C4.
• Office national you film you Canadaat the Balmoral Building 1501 in Bleury Montreal Quebec H3A 0H3 (Place des Arts metro station)
• Sir George Williams Alumni Auditorium (H110) from Concordia University at 1455 de Maisonneuve W. Montreal Quebec H3G 1M8 (Guy-Concordia metro station).
• Museum Cinema at 1379-A rue Sherbrooke W. Montreal Quebec H3G 1K3 (Peel metro)
TICKETS: $14/ticket ($11 for students and people aged 65 and over). Several types of passes — for 6 or 10 tickets or all access or hybrid. Consult the site for all the details.
BUYING TICKETS ONLINE Buy your tickets directly on the website in advance and secure a seat in the theater! Simply select a movie and log in (or create an account if you don’t have one). Once your purchase is made, you will receive a confirmation email with all the details.
IN THE ROOM If there are tickets left for the screening that interests you, you can purchase them on the day of the screening, 30 minutes before the first screening of the day.
