Motel Destino

In bright and always sunny city in eastern Brazil, handsome Heraldo, who dreams of starting his own lawful business, works for the local mafia matron. But after one steamy night, the guy realizes he is in trouble. With nowhere to hide, Heraldo takes refuge in a sex motel eloquently named Destino. This motel is no brothel - it is a place where couples who want to indulge in sexual pleasures and quench their lust come freely, where no one asks any questions, but everything is surveilled by cameras and prying eyes, and moans linger in the hallways from behind closed doors. The place is controlled by a mysterious owner, Dayana, and her abusive husband, Elias (Fábio Assunção, popular Brazilian soap opera star), who looks a lot like "worn out" Brad Pitt. Gradually, Heraldo becomes involved in a dangerously passionate love triangle with the owners of Destino...

After ten years abroad, renowned Brazilian director Karim Aïnouz (The Invisible Life of Eurídice Gusmão) returns to his homeland and decides to let his hair down by producing an extremely vivid, neon and noirish erotic thriller under the shadowless sun of the equator, with a psychedelic element of secret desires. Although the film, full of color and passion, is reminiscent of a Lynchian dream labyrinth, Aïnouz nonetheless does not refer to him.

Warning: the film contains flashing, stroboscopic and sensual scenes.