07/08/2025 - Alberto Utrera's black comedy, based on real events, once again demonstrates that money – or the desire to possess it – brings out the violent, greedy and savage beast that lies within humans

Kimberley Tell, Paco León, Adam Jezierski, Stéphanie Magnin and Raúl Tejón in 1x2

1x2 is the third feature film directed by Alberto Utrera (Desmontando a Lucía, Smoking Club [+see also:
trailer
film profile]). After premiering in the official out-of-competition section at the most recent Malaga Film Festival, it will be released in Spanish cinemas on 8 August, distributed by Raabta Pictures.

Based more than loosely on true events – its creator says the central idea came to him a decade ago after hearing about a couple who, following a lengthy discussion over what they would do with a hypothetical lottery fortune, ended up divorcing, only to later discover that they had actually won. Its plot, written by the filmmaker alongside Carlos Soria, follows forty-something friends and Gran Canaria residents Chino (played by Paco León) and Josu (Raúl Tejón), who have been trying to pick the winning lottery numbers ever since they met at university. This particular weekend they have already guessed the first 12 results correctly and, together with their partners, Paula (Kimberley Tell) and Cris (Stéphanie Magnin), they decide to watch the final matches of the day at Chino’s family home in the village. Joining them is David (Adam Jezierski), a recently divorced colleague of Josu.

With these five characters (plus a few minor ones, such as a nosy neighbour), the film builds a comedy about a group of friends and dysfunctional couples that becomes increasingly claustrophobic, tense and violent as the story unfolds, taking place almost entirely in a single location: a chalet with a garden. As the prospect of sudden wealth draws closer by the minute (with the results of a decisive football match trickling in), the five are forced to confront the hidden cracks in their relationships, revealing their true selves without masks or pretence.

Meanwhile, terrible, spur-of-the-moment decisions propel them into extreme and deeply unpleasant situations, exposing not only the wild animal that lurks within every human being but, perhaps even more depressingly, the irredeemable stupidity that surfaces when the scent of excessive wealth is in the air, destroying any hint of affection, trust or loyalty that might once have existed.

Mixing humour, violence and psychology, 1x2 recalls – with certain differences – certain films by Roman Polanski (especially Carnage [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight, and Paolo Genovese's Perfect Strangers [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and its remakes, in the way it also examines relationships and their perverse, toxic mechanisms that have become normalised, appearing utterly baffling to anyone observing from the outside.

1x2 is produced by Garajonay Producciones (which also handles its international sales) and Buendía Estudios.

(Translated from Spanish)