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.[2]

Motel Destino
Release poster
Directed byKarim Aïnouz
Written by
  • Wislan Esmeraldo
  • Karim Aïnouz
  • Mauricio Zacharias
Produced by
  • Hélène Théodoly
  • Gabrielle Tana
  • Michael Weber
  • Viola Fügen
  • Didar Domehri
  • André Novis
  • Caio Gullane
  • Fabiano Gullane
  • Janaina Bernardes
Starring
CinematographyHélène Louvart
Edited byNelly Quettier
Music byAmine Bouhafa
Production
companies
Distributed by
  • Pandora Filmes (Brazil)
  • Tandem Films (France)
  • Piffl Medien (Germany)
Release dates
  • 22 May 2024 (2024-05-22) (Cannes)
  • 22 August 2024 (2024-08-22) (Brazil)
  • 14 November 2024 (2024-11-14) (Germany)
  • 25 December 2024 (2024-12-25) (France)
Running time
115 minutes
Countries
  • Brazil
  • France
  • Germany
LanguagePortuguese
Box office$13,454[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. It was released in Brazil on 22 August 2024, in Germany on 14 November 2024, and in France on 25 December 2024.

Premise

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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.[3]

Cast

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Production

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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.[4] Iago Xavier and Nataly Rocha were selected for the lead roles after an extensive audition process which included over 500 actors.[2]

Release

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Motel Destino was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival,[5] where it had its world premiere on 22 May 2024.[6]

Pandora Filmes theatrically released the film in Brazil on 22 August 2024,[7] while Piffl Medien is set to release it in Germany on 14 November 2024,[8] and Tandem Films is set to distribute it in France on 25 December 2024.[9] Brouhaha/Written Rock are handling the UK rights, and worldwide sales are entrusted to The Match Factory.[4]

Reception

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Critical response

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 65% based on 17 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10.[10] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100 based on 6 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[11]

Accolades

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Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Cannes Film Festival 25 May 2024 Palme d'Or Karim Aïnouz Nominated [5]
Queer Palm Nominated [12]
Lima Film Festival 17 August 2024 Best Picture Motel Destino Nominated [13]

References

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  1. ^ "Motel Destino". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b 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.
  3. ^ "MOTEL DESTINO". Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ a b 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.
  6. ^ "The Screenings Guide of the 77th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Motel Destino" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Pandora Filmes. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Motel Destino" (in German). Piffl Medien. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Motel Destino" (in French). Tandem Films. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Motel Destino". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Motel Destino". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  12. ^ Dams, Tim (9 May 2024). "Queer Palm reveals eligible titles from 2024 Cannes lineup". Screen International. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  13. ^ "¡Estos son los ganadores del 28 Festival de Cine de Lima PUCP!". festivaldelima.com (in Spanish). 17 August 2024. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
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