“Queer” with Daniel Craig: Everything about the drama that has been going viral since the Venice Film Festival

There were also some tense moments in Venice surrounding the sexuality of the film and Daniel's involvement and role. During a press conference in Venice, a reporter asked about James Bond's sexuality, to which Luca Guadagnino replied that he should “be the adult in the room for a second” and reminded him that “there is no way anyone knows James Bond's desires. The most important thing is that he carries out his missions properly. How anyone in 2024 would think to ask such a question is beyond me.

Since 2021, Daniel Craig has been starring in all films that have nothing to do with James Bond – and in which he can finally show that he is one really goods actor. Also diversity writes that Daniel Craig's performance is worlds away from James Bond, allowing him to showcase his many talents and delve deep into the shame, stigma and ultimate liberation of male sexuality.

What is “Queer” about?

The film is based on the semi-autobiographical novella of the same name by author William S. Borroughs, which was published in 1985. The IMDB synopsis for the film states: “Lee (played by Daniel Craig) recounts his life in Mexico City among American college students and bar owners, surviving on part-time jobs and GI Bill benefits. “Until he falls in love with a young man named Eugene Allerton.”

Allerton (Drew Starkey) is a discharged Marine and drug user who eventually gives in to Lee's advances. We also know that the character of Allerton is based on Adelbert Lewis Marker, a real-life friend of Burroughs. The film contains some drug and dream sequences, as both men struggle with drug and alcohol addiction.

In an interview with Cinecitta Guadagnino called “Queer” “my most personal film” and described the sex scenes as “numerous and quite scandalous.”

Of course, Daniel Craig was also asked about the sex scenes, and he answered quite calmly: “There is nothing intimate about shooting a sex scene on a film set,” he said, “we just wanted to make it as touching, as real and as natural as possible.” Drew [der seinen Geliebten spielt] is a wonderful, fantastic, talented actor and we had a lot of laughs. We tried to make it funny.”

Because surprise: the sex scenes, which look hot and intimate in the film, are of course completely different when filming. There are at least ten people standing around you, making sure the lighting is right, you get the best shot and the microphone is as close to the actors as possible. There is a different way to be sexy.

That's why “Queer” is going viral right now – and what the critics are saying

The film is said to have the “most explicit gay sex scenes” as Indiewire writes films that shock and convince critics. A tiring pattern is slowly emerging that films today are only artistic and profound if they contain “shocking sex scenes”. This seems to be a particularly common Must Seeing queer sex on screen can be liberating and normalizing – but if every article says how “shocking” it was, it can also have the opposite effect. But that's just a side note.