As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in various digital worlds, I must say that the real-life drama unfolding at this year’s Venice Film Festival is as captivating as any virtual quest I’ve embarked upon. The anticipation around Luca Guadagnino’s new film, Queer, starring none other than Daniel Craig, is akin to waiting for the release of an epic role-playing game expansion pack.
Renowned Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino made a grand entrance at the Venice Film Festival on Tuesday, debuting his eagerly awaited period drama titled Queer, featuring Daniel Craig. The movie’s premiere on the red carpet signifies a triumphant comeback to Lido for the Italian director, who had to cancel his previous project, the sensual tennis-themed film Challengers, as the Venice Film Festival opening movie last year due to issues stemming from the Hollywood actors’ strike.
As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve been keeping an eye on “Queer” – a film that’s creating quite a stir as it might win the Golden Lion and be a contender for Hollywood awards. Alberto Barbera, Venice’s artistic director, even called it a career-defining performance for its lead actor (Craig). The story is based on William S. Burroughs’ timeless novel set in 1950s Mexico City, where Craig portrays an American expat who finds himself captivated by a young student (Drew Starkey). Alongside Craig, the film boasts an impressive cast that includes Lesley Manville, Jason Schwartzman, Andra Ursuta, Michael Borremans, and David Lowery. The screenwriter of “Challengers,” Justin Kuritzkes, teamed up with Guadagnino once again to adapt this captivating tale.
Craig explained how he and his co-star Starkey established a comfortable connection for filming the explicit love scenes, mentioning that they practiced dance routines together several months prior to the actual filming commencing.
At the Queer’s press conference in Venice, Craig put forth that dancing with someone serves as an excellent way to initiate conversations. He added, “When it comes to filming a love scene, it’s important to know that it’s not an intimate moment in the traditional sense because there are numerous people involved – a whole crew watching. However, we aimed to make it as genuine, authentic, and unforced as possible.”
“Drew is an absolute delight to collaborate with, incredibly talented, and we shared some great laughter,” said Craig, explaining their dynamic. “We aimed to keep things enjoyable.”
Starkey himself mentioned that the practice sessions for movement and dance routines gave us a sense of liberation, both physically and mentally. This freedom enabled us to venture into uncharted territories and explore new ideas. He explained, “Dancing with someone on the second day of meeting is an effective method to establish a connection.”
Starkey acknowledged choreographer Paul Lightfoot’s role in helping him and his co-star find their rhythm. “We spent months trying different things with each other,” he stated, before shifting focus to Guadagnino. “After that, we had a few weeks of truly delving into it,” said Starkey. He also gave credit to Guadagnino for providing the space for this exploration and growth, stating that it was an exceptional acting experience. Starkey admitted he’s not a dancer himself, and neither is his co-star Dan, but they managed to learn and improve together through the process.
During a later interview at the press conference, an Australian reporter questioned Guadagnino regarding his choice to cast Craig, famously recognized for his extensive role as James Bond, as the main character in the movie. The journalist wanted to know if Guadagnino believed there could potentially be a gay James Bond character.
Guadagnino nodded, smiled, and brushed off the query. “Alright everyone,” he stated, “let’s show some maturity. It’s undeniable that James Bond’s preferences will remain a mystery, full-stop.”
However, as he touched Craig’s shoulder, the director said, “For quite some time, I’ve held this man in high regard.”
Guadagnino expressed some thoughts about what viewers should be contemplating once they depart from the theater: “My hope is that, by the end, the audience will have a sense of self-identity. Who are we when we’re on our own and who are we seeking? Who do we desire to be with?”
In a statement as director, Guadagnino expressed his filmmaking style by stating: “Given that a person who observes and feels can’t be anything but sad, asks William Burroughs in his final diary entry before passing. When adapting his second novel, written nearly forty years ago, we aimed to address this simple plea from the iconoclast of the Beat Generation.”
24th Studio secured the American distribution privileges for the film “Queer” prior to its world debut at Venice. Their intention is to screen it before the year concludes.
The movie was created through a joint effort by Fremantle, Fremantle North America, Lorenzo Mieli of The Apartment, and Luca Guadagnino’s Frenesy Film Company. Additionally, Cinecitta and Frame by Frame were involved in the production as well.
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2024-09-03 16:07