Queer, written by Justin Kuritzkes and adapted from William S. Burroughs’ novel, is a haunting exploration of identity, desire, and alienation. Set in post-war Mexico City, the film follows Lee, an aging American ex-pat who drifts through life until a young student named Allerton enters his orbit. What begins as fascination grows into longing, stirring feelings Lee has long repressed.
Screenwriting: Navigating Silence and Obsession
Kuritzkes approaches the screenplay with stark intimacy. Much of the power comes not from what’s said, but from what’s withheld. Lee’s voice is sharp and searching. His loneliness sits between the lines. The writing captures the haze of addiction, the pull of fantasy, and the sting of unreciprocated affection.
Studiovity’s Screenwriting Tool can help writers organize emotionally layered scenes. Especially in stories like Queer, where subtext drives the narrative, tracking character emotion is essential.
Direction: Burroughs’ World Reimagined
Director Luca Guadagnino creates a space that feels both sunlit and suffocating. Mexico City hums in the background, but Lee’s world remains small—bars, cafés, hotel rooms. The camera lingers, watching Lee watch others. This slow pace mirrors his emotional paralysis. When Allerton enters, light shifts subtly, hinting at possibility, but also danger.
With Studiovity’s Breakdown Tool, a director can map the subtle tonal shifts. Moments of quiet observation, hallucination, or tension can be prepped with care and clarity.
Production: Capturing Time and Displacement
The 1950s are recreated not just through fashion and sets, but through mood. There’s a feeling of faded grandeur—expats hiding from themselves in a place that feels just out of time. Production design reinforces Lee’s disconnection. The world feels lived-in, yet distant.
Studiovity’s Budgeting Software helps manage the fine details of period filmmaking. Every lamp, costume, or setting change is tracked, keeping the vision coherent.
Download the screenplay and step inside a fragile mind shaped by desire, exile, and self-erasure.
Final Thoughts
Queer is a deeply internal story, rich in mood and melancholy. With precise writing and Studiovity’s suite of creative tools, this adaptation transforms longing into cinema.
