True Story Behind Daniel Craig’s “Queer”: All You Need to Know

After charming the audience with his quips as the mighty 007, Daniel Craig is all set to flex his acting chops in more diverse and vibrant roles. He will next be seen in Queer, a romantic drama flick. He will finally be seen embracing his vulnerabilities as an actor in this movie, something he seldom got a chance to do as James Bond.

Queer is already at the height of its buzz with film festival fast approaching. Fans are excited to see Craig in this all-new role in this poignant narrative. Interestingly, the story of Queer has some basis in reality. Let’s explore the intricacies below.

Is Queer based on a true story?

Directed by Luca Guadagnino, Queer tells the story of Lee as he lives his life in Mexico City. After coming face to face with a fascinating young man named Eugene Allerton, a US Navy serviceman recently discharged from Jacksonville, Florida, Lee becomes infatuated with him and pursues him with romantic interest.

The movie is based on William S. Burroughs’s eponymous novel which is said to be semi-autobiographical. Though Daniel Craig’s character seems to be based on Burroughs himself as he names himself William Lee in the story, his love interest in real life, fellow veteran Adelbert Lewis Marker, is disguised as Eugene Allerton.

Burrough wrote the book in the 1950s when the world was fresh off the horrors of the Second World War. Along with the homos*xual content and the undertones of passionate love, the story was not appreciated back in the day as it should have been. Hence, the final novel was published about thirty years later only to become one of the classics in gay literature segments.

Who stars in Queer?

Craig is leading the charge in the movie as Lee with Drew Starkley playing Eugene Allerton. While casting for the movie, it was crucial for these two characters to have remarkable chemistry. Despite coming from different worlds, Lee and Allerton bonded on several topics, while battling their innermost desires. Craig is already generating Oscar buzz since critics are calling his performance one of the best to date.

Other actors including Jason Schwartzman, Lesley Manville, Omar Apollo, and Henrique Zaga are also seen in different roles in the story.

The essence of the movie lies in how the world viewed queer people back in the day. Even if Lee and Allerton are sure of their feelings, that guilt and fear of how the world would see them stops them dead in their tracks. Hence, Mexico City of the 1950s is another main character in the movie, more of a villain per se, who will not let the two main characters have their happy ending.

Daniel Craig Talks About Queer and Yearning

At the center of the whirlwind that is the movie Queer, we see Craig in his absolute open and vulnerable form. The actor is not afraid of getting his hands dirty in the murky waters of the narrative while also exploring his range. He accurately describes the story as one about yearning and finding love.

In a conversation with CBS, Craig shares how he feels about Lee and Allerton as the former chases the latter and pursues him in the hopes of finding love,

I also think that he’s searching – clearly from the top of the movie, he’s searching for something. And he finds Allerton. And he thinks this is it, this is the one, so therefore he throws everything at it – probably awkwardly, and embarrasses himself in the process.

Queer witnesses Craig in the truest form of acting, where he is immersed in the story he’s telling and doesn’t have a care in the world about what others would think. It was a refreshing change of pace to watch the immovable James Bond become William Lee, a man of passion and desire.

Queer got a limited theatrical release on November 27 following its premiere on Venice and New York Film Festivals.