Luca Guadagnino’s 'Queer' Brings William S. Burroughs' Vision to Life

The adaptation of Burroughs' semi-autobiographical novella explores complex themes of desire, connection, and isolation in 1950s Mexico City.

The film 'Queer,' directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by Justin Kuritzkes, adapts William S. Burroughs' novella with a focus on unsynchronized love and human connection.
Daniel Craig stars as William Lee, a character based on Burroughs, portraying a complex, lonely, and flawed man navigating addiction and unrequited desire.
The movie expands on the novella's abrupt ending, introducing surreal and visually striking sequences that explore deeper emotional and psychic connections between characters.
Guadagnino collaborated with designer Jonathan Anderson to craft period-appropriate yet stylized costumes, enhancing the film's deliberate artificiality in its depiction of 1950s Mexico City.
The soundtrack, featuring Nirvana and Sinead O'Connor, bridges Burroughs' era with contemporary audiences, amplifying the film's themes of loneliness and the struggle for genuine connection.