Eros

There are 5000 motels in Brazil, and Eros offers the viewer a peek behind their doors. Guests at these motels have sex, conversations, meals, and lounge around in hot tubs. Eros is a story about the base urges of human beings, about intimacy, love, and being accepted.

Documentarian Rachel Daisy Ellis set up a date with a new partner at a motel with the intention of filming their time together. When her partner stood her up, Ellis decided to film herself and listen to the sounds of lust coming from the rooms around her. She came up with the idea to ask other guests at these institutions to film their stays.

We meet multiple couples: an older woman and her lover, a transwoman planning to escape the country and the love of her life, a religious couple looking for some alone-time away from their children, a gay couple who admire the fountain in the hot tub, a couple inspired by BDSM, and a man pondering his love life while spending time alone at the motel. In front of the camera, the guests speak candidly about sex, love, shame and God – but also play, have fun, and laugh.

Salla Nazarenko (translated by Sofia Lanki)