regular Luca Guadagnino is back on the Lido to debut his new Daniel Craig film 㽶ƵֱQueer㽶Ƶֱ on Tuesday night.
A festival favorite, Guadagnino had to forgo a splashy red carpet premiere for the last year, when the studio delayed its release amid the actors strike. But the filmmaker is returning with another highly anticipated project, adapting a William S. Burroughs novel about an American expat in Mexico City in 1950 who develops an obsession with a young, male student.
A few hours before the premiere, Craig spoke to The Associated Press about the challenges of the role, which included nudity and sex scenes. His character, William Lee, spends his days drinking tequila in sweaty bars and his nights pursuing men, or doing heroin alone. It㽶Ƶֱs a raw and exposing performance, but Craig trusted his director㽶Ƶֱs vision.
㽶ƵֱI think if it was wrong, (Luca would) say something, but if it was right, he㽶Ƶֱd just say, you know, move on. Let㽶Ƶֱs do it. Let㽶Ƶֱs go. We have it,㽶Ƶֱ Craig said. 㽶ƵֱWhich can be a little disconcerting, but I think after a while you just go, 㽶ƵֱI㽶Ƶֱm in his hands.㽶Ƶֱ㽶Ƶֱ
㽶ƵֱChallengers㽶Ƶֱ screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes wrote the script for 㽶ƵֱQueer,㽶Ƶֱ adapting a novel that was written in the 1950s but not published until 1985. It㽶Ƶֱs a story that others have tried to adapt over the years, including Steve Buscemi and Oren Moverman.
㽶ƵֱI always felt that Burroughs had a very public face, and I wanted to know what the private part of him was like,㽶Ƶֱ said Craig, who spoke to a few people who knew him. 㽶ƵֱI think in 㽶ƵֱQueer㽶Ƶֱ you sort of see more of that than you do in his other books.㽶Ƶֱ
Craig had been aware of Burroughs and his Beat era contemporaries like Ginsberg and Kerouac but not the specifics of his time in Mexico.
㽶ƵֱIt was kind of nice digging into that,㽶Ƶֱ Craig said.
To play the young object of his affection, Eugene Allerton, Guadagnino cast rising actor Drew Starkey, who said he devoured the novel in a day.
Starkey said he was intimidated to work alongside Guadagnino and Craig.
㽶ƵֱI was familiar with both their work. I was fans of both their work,㽶Ƶֱ he said. 㽶ƵֱI think coming into any situation is nerve-wracking. And there was an extra layer on top of that.㽶Ƶֱ
Craig and Starkey star alongside Lesley Manville and Jason Schwartzman in the film, which is playing in the main competition. A24 recently acquired 㽶ƵֱQueer㽶Ƶֱ for theatrical distribution.
The 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival has entered its final week, with the premiere of 㽶ƵֱJoker: Folie à Deux㽶Ƶֱ to come on Wednesday. There have been many movie star moments, with the likes of Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton and Michael Keaton having graced the red carpet outside the Sala Grande theater.
Though no clear favorite has emerged, the films have inspired debate and discussions: ; the authenticity of ; the ; what we really want out of a reunion; and whether Alfonso Cuarón㽶Ƶֱs seven-part Apple TV+ miniseries, which is not in competition, can reasonably be considered the best film of the festival.
Awards will be presented on the final day of the festival, Sept. 7.