| Motel Destino | |
|---|---|
 Release poster | |
| Directed by | Karim Aïnouz |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Hélène Louvart |
| Edited by | Nelly Quettier |
| Music by | Amine Bouhafa |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by |
|
Release date |
|
Running time | 115 minutes |
| Countries |
|
| Language | Portuguese |
Motel Destino is a 2024 erotic thriller film directed and co-written by Karim Aïnouz. It stars Iago Xavier, Nataly Rocha and Fábio Assunção in the lead roles.[1]
The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or and Queer Palm at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered on 22 May 2024.
Premise[edit]
The neon-hued Motel Destino, a roadside sex hotel shimmering (or a similar word) under the burning blue skies of the northeastern coast of Brazil, is run by hot-headed Elias and his restless younger wife Dayana. The unexpected arrival of 21-year-old Heraldo, on the run after a botched hit, disrupts the established order. As the tropical noir plays out, loyalties and desires intertwine to reveal that destiny has its own enigmatic design.[2]
Cast[edit]
- Iago Xavier as Heraldo
- Nataly Rocha as Dayana
- Fábio Assunção as Elias
Production[edit]
Motel Destino was produced by Cinema Inflamável and Gullane in co-production with Globo Filmes, Telecine, and Canal Brasil, and co-produced internationally by Maneki Films (France) and The Match Factory (Germany). The screenplay was written by Wislan Esmeraldo, in collaboration with Aïnouz and Mauricio Zacharias. The film was shot entirely in Ceará, where Aïnouz hails from.[3] Iago Xavier and Nataly Rocha were selected for the lead roles after an extensive audition process which included over 500 actors.[1]
Release[edit]
Motel Destino was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 22 May 2024.[4]
Pandora Filmes is scheduled to theatrically release the film in Brazil[1] while Tandem Films is handling distribution in France, Brouhaha/Written Rock are handling the UK rights, and worldwide sales are entrusted to The Match Factory.[3]
Reception[edit]
Critical response[edit]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 82% based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10.[5] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100 based on 6 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[6]
Accolades[edit]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival | 25 May 2024 | Palme d'Or | Karim Aïnouz | Nominated | [7] |
| Queer Palm | Nominated | [8] |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Barraclough, Leo (7 August 2023). "'Firebrand' Director Karim Aïnouz Starts Production on Erotic Thriller 'Motel Destino,' the Match Factory Handles Sales". Variety. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "MOTEL DESTINO". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ a b Bergeson, Samantha (11 April 2024). "'Motel Destino' First Look: Karim Aïnouz Returns to Brazil for Sweaty Erotic Sex Hotel Thriller". IndieWire. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "The Screenings Guide of the 77th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "Motel Destino". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
- ^ "Motel Destino". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ Ntim, Zac (11 April 2024). "Cannes Film Festival Lineup Set: Competition Includes Coppola, Audiard, Cronenberg, Arnold, Lanthimos, Sorrentino & Abbasi's Trump Movie — Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ Dams, Tim (9 May 2024). "Queer Palm reveals eligible titles from 2024 Cannes lineup". Screen International. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
External links[edit]
