Set on Brazil’s northeastern coast, 21-year-old Heraldo lives on the wrong side of the law to make ends meet. When a hit ordered by his gang leader goes wrong, Heraldo is forced to flee and escapes into the darkness of a roadside sex motel for cover. He soon realises that it isn’t safe for him outdoors, so the eccentric owner, Elias, and his restless wife, Dayana, allow Heraldo to hide away in the seedy, neon-hued motel as long as he helps them out.
As they spend time with each other, emotions begin to bubble under the surface, heightened by the scorching sun and endless heat. Amid the lush, sun-drenched landscapes and the neon lights of the motel, hidden desires and jealousies make their way to the fore, loyalties are challenged, and a complex dance of conflicting feelings and secret agendas begins.
Acclaimed filmmaker Karim Aïnouz returns to his home country of Brazil with Motel Destino, which premiered in competition at Cannes 2024.