Motel Destino

Somewhere in northeastern Brazil, in a place where the air vibrates with sweltering heat, lies a small, neon-lit roadside motel run by the rugged Elias and his enchanting but disgruntled wife Dayana. On and day 21-year-old Heraldo arrives, a man seeking a safe and mostly anonymous refuge after a failed assassination attempt. Dayana falls under the spell of this new guest and offers him shelter. Elias, on the other hand, is highly suspicious of the newcomer. A sultry love triangle ensues in which jealousy, desire and revenge prevail. Dayana and Heraldo devise a dangerous plan to escape their fate and especially Elias.

In this tropical film-noir, evoking The Postman Always Rings Twice, Brazilian director Karim Aïnouz tells a story full of electrifying sensuality, sultry nights, lust and fear. Once again, it becomes clear that the line between freedom and downfall is very thin.