“Queer”, the latest film by Luca Guadagnino (“Call Me By Your Name”, “I Am Love”, “Challengers”) takes the viewers to a world of untamed desires, shamanic rituals and sensual, wild nature. The protagonists are two Americans: beautiful, young Gene Allerton (magnetic Drew Starkey), and the older William Lee (Daniel Craig), who struggles with addiction and loneliness. “Queer” is Guadagnino’s second, equally successful collaboration with screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes, who wrote the script for “Challengers”.

Daniel Craig, who gained fame as Bond, played his boldest role to date with Guadagnino. The actor extracts from his character both the magnetic eroticism and the tragic ridiculousness of a mature man who fell in love like a teenager. Together with Starkey, he creates an electrifying duo: one is elusive, cool and beautiful, the other – insatiable, hungry for feelings and consumed by erotic fever. The protagonists, American expats, meet in Mexico in the 1950s and begin a trance journey that will take them all the way to the Ecuadorian jungle.

The screen adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ cult novel extracts all the visual splendour and sensual beauty from the literature, while not shying away from penetrating political commentary. Satire on prudish and hypocritical America intertwines here with the most intense screen romance in recent years.

The film is complemented by a captivating soundtrack. The music for “Queer” was composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (Oscar winners for “The Social Network”), and one of their new songs is performed by Brazilian singer-songwriter Caetano Veloso. The soundtrack also features hits by Sinéad O’Connor, Nirvana, Prince, and New Order. Every sound and song in this film tells the story of a crazy, unrequited love that is like a drug – addictive and leaves you wanting more – but that everyone would like to experience at least once.