Querelle is a handsome sailor whose commanding officer, Seblon, worships and desires him from afar. After murdering his drug-smuggling partner, Querelle visits a notorious brothel run by the rapacious Lysiane who leads Querelle into his first homosexual encounter. Subsequently, he falls in love with a fellow murderer, Gil. Partly because his love for Gil panics him, and partly so that he can keep Gil all to himself, Querelle betrays him to the police. But by now Querelle has become vulnerable and soon the once powerful object of passion comes to belong to Seblon.