The One-Handed Trick

The One-Handed Trick is a 2008 Spanish film directed by Santiago A. Zannou, which stars Juan Manuel Montilla "Langui" alongside Ovono Candela.

Plot

The plot follows the attempts of two friends, Adolfo and El Cuajo, of setting up a hip hop recording studio.

Production

The One-Handed Trick was produced by Media Films, and it had the participation of TVE. Filming took place in locations belonging to the outskirts of Barcelona, including.

Release

The film screened at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in September 2008. It was theatrically released in Spain on 16 January 2009.

Reception

Mirito Torreiro of Fotogramas rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting "Zannou's rigor in building the story" as the best thing about the film, while citing a degree of "obviousness in the drawing of some characters" as a negative point.
Jonathan Holland of Variety considered that the film——"a too-rare incursion by Spanish film into the coarse realities of multiculturalism on its cities' outskirts"—features "a crudely makeshift feel that suits its subject".
Irene Crespo of Cinemanía rated it 3 out of 5 stars, considering that Zannou, "with few resources, without professional actors, but with a lot of enthusiasm, and at a rap rhythm", managed to craft "an undeceptive portrait of the reality of any city's slums"