Written by Dr. Zoe Crombie

As mentioned in my review of last year’s hot blooded sports drama Challengers that some of you may have read, it’s easy to see that Luca Guadagnino has become one of Hollywood’s most exciting voices of the 21^st century so far. But beyond the acclaim, how does one characterise his filmmaking oeuvre with such a diverse filmography? For many, including Guadagnino, the common denominator of his work is his implicit, or often explicit, approach to queer sexuality, explored in films as wide ranging as Suspiria, Bones and All, and especially 2017’s Call Me by Your Name.

Following these acclaimed entries into LGBTQ cinema with a film that puts this theme in its very title, Queer mirrors Call Me by Your Name as a period drama exploring the relationship between an expat from America and his younger lover. Adapting the 1985 novella of the same name by William S. Burroughs, Queer stars Daniel Craig in the leading role, giving yet another post-Bond performance that demonstrates both his range and his depths as an actor. Though set in 1950s Mexico City, the film does not spend its runtime lamenting the persecution faced by LGBTQ individuals – instead, it focuses on the central relationship, demonstrating how such boundary breaking partnerships have been forged throughout history since time immemorial.

With another electrifying screenplay by Challengers writer Justin Kuritzkes, Queer is perhaps the quintessential Guadagnino film: personal, expertly crafted, and transgressive. And with a recent commendation from John Waters, what’s not to love?

See Queer between the 4th & 9th January

Grab your tickets here!