Daniel Craig and Luca Guadagnino on Queer’s ‘Unsynchronized’ Love Story

As a queer film enthusiast who has navigated through the complexities and nuances of LGBTQ+ narratives, I find Luca Guadagnino’s latest masterpiece, “Queer,” to be an exceptional work that transcends the conventional boundaries of cinema. The film’s unapologetic portrayal of love, addiction, and self-discovery resonates deeply with my own experiences and struggles as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

The scene on-screen mirrors a vivid image that 17-year-old Luca Guadagnino had in his mind: a man smitten by love reaches out, almost ethereally, to touch the face of his unaware beloved with a semi-transparent hand. These images were penned by William S. Burroughs in his 1985 semi-autobiographical novella “Queer”, which Guadagnino, now aged 53, read as a young man alone in Palermo, Italy. He started working on an adaptation at the age of 21, years before he released his first film in 1999. Bringing Burroughs’ description to life was easy, according to the director, reminiscent of the “old days” of cinema. “It’s superimposed,” he says, “but it carries a strong impact.

In his own words, Justin Kuritzkes, the scriptwriter for Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming 2024 film “Challengers“, transformed Burroughs’ novel into the screenplay for “Queer“. He explained that he aimed to serve as a bridge between two remarkable queer artists: William S. Burroughs and Luca Guadagnino. This task required creative freedom, as Kuritzkes expanded on the explicit scenes, incorporated surreal sequences hinting at Burroughs’ wife Joan Vollmer’s shooting death, and developed the final act beyond what Burroughs had merely implied. The character of Dr. Cotter, initially described as a middle-aged man living in the Ecuadorean jungle, was reimagined as a woman, portrayed captivatingly by Lesley Manville. Manville spent around three hours daily in hair and makeup while filming. She expressed that taking on such a role was liberating compared to the pressure of trying to look attractive on screen.

Simultaneously, a significant portion of the movie closely follows Burroughs’ novel, incorporating large portions of dialogue and maintaining its overall structure. Guadagnino’s Queer is both a homage and an expansion, a creative reinterpretation of the adaptation process. As Craig explains, “You stay true to the book because it’s essential to honor the original work. However, as artists, our role is to interpret and to innovate.

The term “Queer” encompasses far more than just the sexuality of the film’s characters; it embodies the movie’s very essence. In many aspects, this film can be seen as ‘queer’, deviating or skewing from traditional norms. Most of its scenes were filmed at Cinecittà Studios in Rome, giving it an old-Hollywood, movie-set feel that would have been censored during the story’s own time under the Production Code. The film’s music was composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, with several songs chosen anachronistically, such as New Order’s “Leave Me Alone”, Prince’s “17 Days”, Sinead O’Connor’s version of “All Apologies”, and Nirvana’s own “Come As You Are”. Guadagnino explained that the inclusion of Nirvana’s songs served as a connection between two troubled artists, Kurt Cobain and Burroughs.

In addition, Craig’s portrayal of Lee deviates from a literal imitation of Burroughs during the ’50s, as the actor expresses gratitude for that fact. Instead, it was partially based on late-life, candid footage of Burroughs showing him high, laughing, and being playful. Furthermore, the movie “Queer” challenges the traditional love story narrative: Lee develops feelings for Allerton, while Allerton maintains a distance, publicly favoring a young woman over Lee and expressing views on gay culture that raise questions about his own sexuality. However, director Guadagnino and the cast assert that this is not a tale of unrequited love but rather a story of love that doesn’t align perfectly.

As a movie critic, I was taken aback during my recent Zoom chat with Luca Guadagnino and Timothée Chalamet in November, when they both subtly dismissed the central role of Lee’s queerness – an aspect I expected to be front and center, given the film’s title. In a surprising twist, Guadagnino posited, “For me, this story is not primarily about sexuality or homosexuality; it’s more about exploring whether we are prepared for meaningful connections, and what obstacles keep these characters from experiencing a profound connection.” Chalamet echoed this sentiment, stating, “In a sense, the protagonist’s sexuality falls lower on the list of importance. Our focus was on portraying the emotional journey of these individuals, which is what we prioritized during filmmaking.

In simpler terms, let me clarify that the movie’s sexual content is explicit and abundant. Viewers who felt disappointed by the frequent camera pans in Guadagnino’s earlier film, “Call Me by Your Name”, may find satisfaction with the straightforwardness of “Queer”. Both of Craig’s on-screen love interests, Starkey and newcomer Omar Apollo, appear completely nude in the movie. Starkey admits to wearing a prosthetic, while Apollo remains vague about his on-screen appearance. When asked why he chose not to go fully nude as well, Craig jokes that both actors are young and attractive. Craig attributes laughter during filming and rehearsals for a dance sequence as a means of reducing tension. Starkey adds that the shared embarrassment and small achievements in the choreography helped build a connection between them, which translated into their performances.

In the past, an actor playing a gay role was often seen as a potential career hazard, causing controversy. However, while it’s less shocking now, it’s still significant to mention that Guadagnino cast James Bond, who is commonly associated with the stereotypical straight male character of the last century, in a film titled Queer.

Apollo remarks, “It’s crucial, I believe, for a film featuring Daniel Craig, the current James Bond, and such a powerful male icon to be released at this time.

Craig expresses his intrigue about the portrayal of masculinity, specifically comparing James Bond (007) to Lee. He suggests that understanding this connection involves considering societal perceptions of men and their methods of self-presentation.

Craig, who has been married to actress Rachel Weisz since 2011 and previously portrayed queer characters in films like “Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon” (1998) and the “Knives Out” series, emphasizes that his role as Lee was not solely focused on his sexuality but rather his imperfections. His intention was simply to accurately portray the character. He further explains, “The intricacies of sexuality are far more complex than my comprehension – it’s unique to each individual, more so than a fingerprint.

Despite the rarity of queer narratives compared to heterosexual ones, and the historic frustration within the queer community over poor representations (such as William Friedkin’s 1980 gay serial-killer thriller “Cruising,” as well as “Basic Instinct” and “The Silence of the Lambs”), Luca Guadagnino appears unphased by potential backlash from portraying a less than perfect gay character. As Groucho Marx once said, he doesn’t want to be part of a club that would have him. He also expresses indifference towards meeting community expectations or demands, deeming it almost like an incestuous concept.

In a clear and resolute manner, Guadagnino elucidates his artistic objectives when discussing them – to such an extent that he essentially explains his work for others. A consistent symbol in the movie “Queer” is the centipede, which might leave those unfamiliar with the book puzzled, even those who have read it may be perplexed as Burroughs only briefly mentions the insect in the text. However, Guadagnino provides an explanation, drawing from his study of Burroughs’ journals. “The centipede represents repression,” he explains. “In the movie, the centipede is the antagonist.” The scene where, during their hotel stay with two double beds, a drug-addled Lee asks Allerton if he can share a bed, and Allerton eventually agrees by placing his foot over Lee’s own? Guadagnino asserts, “It is in this moment that you understand this is a love story.

In making his films, Guadagnino draws not only from his script but also personal experiences. A particularly striking scene in his work is when characters Lee and Allerton, under the influence of psychedelics, expand enormous sacs of flesh from their mouths that pop and leave heartbeats on the ground. This vivid image was sparked by a childhood memory of witnessing his aunt hemorrhage. He remembers thinking, “Oh my goodness, Auntie, it’s like she’s blowing a bubblegum bubble, and it bursts!

The unwavering commitment to portraying life in its rawest form has elicited mixed reactions. Following its debut at the Venice Film Festival in September, Queer was greeted with an almost nine-minute standing ovation. Conversely, the reception in Istanbul was noticeably colder; it was prohibited due to concerns over public safety and provocative content. This ban led Mubi, the streaming and distribution platform, to cancel its Mubi Fest Istanbul 2024, where Queer had been scheduled as the opening film. Director Guadagnino remained undeterred, implying that censorship fuels curiosity. Screenwriter Kuritzkes, however, argues that given its title, setting, and release year, the film is inherently political. Guadagnino, on the other hand, views its politics as a challenge to the conventional norms of cinema. “If it is political,” he states, “it’s political in the sense that it challenges us not to make movies according to a mold, but to create innovative prototypes.

Guadagnino finds the unique aspect of his movie lying in its ability to be both universally relatable and incredibly detailed. He explains, “It’s a queer film because it can boldly express specific, even eccentric aspects, while still touching on emotions that resonate with everyone’s experiences.” Craig concurs, stating, “Things that rigidly adhere to strict categories aren’t intriguing for me.

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2024-12-06 22:07