Motel Destino (R)
July 15 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Join us for a screening of Motel Destino, the acclaimed thriller from Brazilian filmmaker Karim Aïnouz.
Set along the sun-drenched coast of Ceará in northeastern Brazil, Motel Destino unfolds within a roadside motel where desire, power, and violence collide. When 21-year-old Heraldo arrives seeking refuge after a failed criminal undertaking, his presence disrupts the fragile balance between the motel’s owners, setting in motion a dangerous chain of events driven by passion, ambition, and the search for freedom. Visually striking and emotionally charged, the film immerses audiences in a world where every choice carries consequences.
Directed by Karim Aïnouz, one of Brazil’s most celebrated contemporary filmmakers, Motel Destino premiered in competition for the Palme d’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The film combines elements of noir, thriller, and melodrama to create a vivid portrait of longing, survival, and self-determination.
Following the screening, attendees are invited to stay for a post-film discussion moderated by Roger Costa. Talkback participants will be announced soon.
As part of the 52nd Newark Black Film Festival, this screening continues the festival’s tradition of presenting compelling international cinema and fostering conversations that connect audiences to stories from around the world.