In the bustling New York of the 1970s, a charismatic and cunning drug trafficker, Carlito Brigante, has just been released from prison after serving a long sentence. As his mind sheds the life of crime, Carlito is determined to leave his past behind and build a better future. His dream is to open a club where he can live in peace, away from danger. However, reality is not so easy to escape, and various forces try to pull him back into his old life.
His loyal attorney, David Kleinfeld, a complicated character who also has his own demons, drags him back into a world of betrayal and violence. As Carlito attempts to navigate this new path, he encounters a figure from his past: his true love, a beautiful and disillusioned dancer named Gail. Their relationship reignites old flames and reminds him of what he truly wants in life—a life free from shadows. But loyalty and betrayal hang in the air, and Carlito soon finds himself forced to make heart-wrenching decisions, facing relentless enemies from his former life.
In this intense odyssey, the fight for redemption comes at a high price. Carlito realizes that, although he longs for freedom, his past will always be one step behind him, and escaping the life of crime is not as simple as he had imagined.