36/41
I’m not queer
Chronology
In 1950s Mexico City, an American expatriate in his forties lives a solitary life in the midst of a small American community. However, the arrival of a young student pushes the man to finally form a meaningful connection with someone.. Ultimately, Daniel Craig was the one who convinced Luca Guadagnino to cast Drew Starkey after watching audition tapes with Guadagnino and telling him “That’s the guy” after seeing Starkey.. [via telepathy] Eugene Allerton: I’m not queer. Lee… William Lee: I know. Eugene Allerton: I’m disembodied.. Features Orfej (1950).
It is an empty existence
QUEER. This word has more than one meaning. The most common is “weird or bizarre.” The second most common use is “homosexual.” Both meanings apply to this film, but the first meaning is probably more appropriate. This film has much more in common with APOCALYPSE NOW than I BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. The story concerns “Lee”, a man in his 50s in the 1950s. He is an American who has achieved a certain level of material success and is now living a relatively hedonistic expat life in Mexico. He is an alcoholic and in the early stages of drug addiction. He spends his days and nights hanging out in gay bars and having meaningless relationships with men who have nothing in common with him except that they are gay.
What does he want?
He wishes he knew. He can’t put it into words. He meets a younger man who appears to be bisexual (his partner in the bar scene is a woman), but they develop a relationship. It is not particularly satisfying for him. He wants more from the younger man than the younger man is willing to give. Eventually she convinces him to accompany her on a journey into the jungles of South America to find a plant containing a drug that supposedly will allow him to develop telepathic powers. He believes that this drug will allow him to figure out what he wants without having to use words. He is told that there is a shaman in the jungle who can get him the plant.
And the drug-induced hallucinations may be very upsetting for some people
The two men go into the jungle and do find the woman, who, played by Lesley Manville, is a fierce force, an old woman who wields a knife and a gun and who seems bloodthirsty. They gain her trust to some extent, but she warns them against taking the drug. It will open a door that they will not be able to close. I am glad I saw this movie, but it is not for everyone. The ending is cryptic and the gay sex scenes may be a little too specific for some people. It is not quite hard-core pornography, but, thanks in large part to the sound effects, it is close. This movie is wonderful to watch; The art direction and cinematography are outstanding, with every scene beautifully composed. For me it was evocative of Edward Hopper’s paintings in its depiction of an objective isolation of the psyche.
The acting is also outstanding
Daniel Craig can break your heart by doing very little. I predict both he and Lesley Manville will get Oscar nominations – Manville could win in the supporting actress category. It wasn’t until I saw her name in the credits that I realized it was the same actress who played the title role in MRS HARRIS GOES TO PARIS. This is a great performance. I think this film will become a staple on the arthouse circuit. It’s definitely worth more than one viewing.
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