Daniel Craig, known for his suave and assured characters like James Bond and Benoit Blanc, plays against type in a surreal and romantic new film from Challengers director Luca Guadagnino and A24.

Craig heads the cast of Queer, which is based on the semi-autobiographical 1985 novel by William S. Burroughs, the writer whose work helped define the Beat Generation. The film is set in Mexico City in the ’50s, where William Lee (Craig), a shy American ex-patriate in his late 40s, leads a solitary life amidst a small American community.

As seen in the trailer, William becomes entranced when Eugene Allerton (Drew Starkey, Outer Banks) arrives in town, stirring William to try to establish a meaningful connection with the younger man. But then the two go on a road trip, looking for a plant that will allow humans to communicate telepathically, and there they meet Dr. Cotter (Lesley Manville).

“It was a wise, old queen who taught me that I had a duty to live, to conquer hate with knowledge and sincerity and love,” says Craig to his new lover, as Sinéad O’Connor’s cover of Nirvana’s “All Apologies” plays throughout the trailer.

Jason Schwartzman, David Lowery and Omar Apollo also star. Guadagnino directs from a screenplay by Justin Kuritzkes, who also collaborated with him on Challengers.

Queer was first shown at the Venice International Film Festival, where it competed for the Golden Lion. The film went on to screen the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. The film is set for a limited theatrical release starting November 27th.