Sundown

Sundown is a 2021 drama film written and directed by Michel Franco. It stars Tim Roth, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Iazua Larios. The plot follows a wealthy man (Roth) who attempts to abandon his family on vacation after the death of his mother. The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on 5 September 2021, and was released in the United States by Bleecker Street on 28 January 2022. The film was met with generally positive reviews. Plot Neil Bennett, a quiet man from London, is on vacation in Acapulco with his sister Alice and her two children, Colin and Alexa. They stay in a luxurious hotel and eat at fancy restaurants. Day after day, the family participates in a variety of fun activities. Neil, however, is not having fun. One day, Alice is told over the phone that her and Neil's mother is in the hospital. Immediately, the family prepares to go home. On the way to the airport, Alice receives a second call informing her that their mother has passed away. Alice bursts into tears while Neil remains calm. At the airport, Neil says he left his passport at the hotel so the rest of the family departs without him. Neil lied about the passport. In reality, he has decided to stay in Acapulco, at least for the next few days. He befriends a taxi driver named Jorge Campos, who takes him to a small hotel. Neil passes the time eating at cheap restaurants and visiting the beach. He ignores Alice's requests to come home and starts dating a friendly local named Berenice. He returns to his room one day to find his belongings are missing, presumably stolen but he shows no emotion. The next day, he witnesses a drive-by shooting yet remains apathetic. The Bennett family is extremely wealthy because they are in the meat processing business. Alice returns to Acapulco and confronts Neil for abandoning her during a hard time. After talking about the family business, Neil signs a document relinquishing his assets and inheritance in the presence of the family lawyer, Richard. Later, Alice is shot and killed by common criminals driven by Jorge. The police arrest Neil, believing he ordered the assassination. Neil bursts into tears upon learning about his sister's death. His representatives arrive and tell him that the company is now his. After Richard gets him out of prison, Neil returns to his hotel room. He continues seeing Berenice and spending time at the beach. Richard, Colin, and Alexa confront him in his room. Alexa hits Neil in the head with a glass bottle.