'Drunken Noodles': Lucio Castro’s Fantastical Erotic Drama Picked Up By Strand For Wider Release

The 2025 Cannes Film Festival’s ACID section—a showcase for bold, independent cinema—welcomed the world premiere of "Drunken Noodles", the latest work from acclaimed Argentinian filmmaker Lucio Castro. Known for his lyrical debut End of the Century, Castro’s new film is an unapologetically queer, fantastical erotic drama that invites audiences into the emotionally charged and sensorially rich world of a young protagonist navigating intimacy and self-discovery across two transformative summers .

"Drunken Noodles" eschews conventional narrative structure for a dreamlike progression of scenes and encounters. The film follows Adnan, a young art student portrayed by Laith Khalifeh, whose journey unfolds between city streets and forest paths in New York and upstate settings. Over two summers, Adnan experiences a series of unexpected, intimate moments with lovers from both past and present, reflecting a search for connection and the simultaneous urge to escape vulnerability .

Cast members—including Joél Isaac, Ezriel Kornel, Céline Clermontois, John Arthur Peetz, Guillermo García Arriaza, and Matthew Risch—bring depth to Adnan’s world, embodying figures who appear as fleeting yet emotionally resonant presences. Castro’s script is minimalistic, relying on gestures, visual cues, and atmospheric sound design to evoke longing, melancholy, and moments of eroticism .

Visually, "Drunken Noodles" is described as lush and textured, with cinematography that uses golds, blues, and deep reds to create a palette both comforting and isolating. Much of the film is set in intimate spaces—bedrooms, art galleries, bustling markets—where the interplay of light, color, and movement suggests states of emotional flux. The title itself, a reference to the Thai dish pad kee mao, functions as a metaphor for the film’s emotional flavor: spicy, chaotic, and deeply human .

Castro’s use of fragmented storytelling and non-linear timelines is a continuation of techniques seen in End of the Century, but here heightened by a more fantastical, erotic edge. The film’s five chapters structure Adnan’s sexual and emotional awakening, blending moments of artistic inspiration with encounters that blur the boundaries between reality and memory .

"Drunken Noodles" stands out as a proudly queer film, foregrounding LGBTQ+ identities without compromise or didacticism. The protagonist’s journey is marked by fluid desire and the negotiation of intimacy with people of diverse genders and backgrounds. The film’s Cannes debut in the ACID section is significant, reflecting both the increasing visibility of LGBTQ+ stories in major festival spaces and the commitment to authenticity in queer representation .

The narrative avoids stereotypes or tokenism, instead portraying its characters as fully realized individuals with complex emotional landscapes. Critical response at Cannes noted the film’s “audacious and proudly queer” approach, with reviewers highlighting its exploration of memory, sexuality, and the tension between longing and solitude .

Lucio Castro drew inspiration from the life of artist Sal Salandra, whose work and persona inform the film’s themes of artistic process and erotic self-discovery. The production, a collaboration between American and Argentine teams, showcases Castro’s continued evolution as a filmmaker unafraid to experiment with form and content. Strand Releasing acquired distribution rights ahead of the premiere, ensuring the film’s reach beyond the festival circuit .

"Drunken Noodles" received its first reviews at Cannes, with critics praising its sensual imagery, meditative pace, and immersive sound design. The film’s placement in the ACID section underscores the importance of independent and experimental queer cinema in contemporary culture. Audience reactions noted the film’s ability to evoke empathy and introspection, particularly among LGBTQ+ viewers seeking nuanced representation .

"Drunken Noodles" marks a new chapter in Lucio Castro’s filmmaking career and in the visibility of queer stories on the global stage. Through its sensual, fragmented storytelling and inclusive cast, the film contributes to the ongoing expansion of LGBTQ+ narratives in major festivals and beyond. As the film moves toward wider release, its impact is likely to grow—inviting audiences everywhere to share in a journey that is at once universal and deeply personal .