Nine Queens (2000)

In the bustling heart of Buenos Aires, a cunning swindler named Juan masterfully executes a bill-changing scam at a convenience store, only to be observed by the seemingly unassuming Marcos. However, as Juan's luck wears thin and he is caught during his second scam attempt, Marcos swoops in to the rescue, masquerading as a police officer and freeing Juan from the clutches of the store manager. Once they escape onto the busy streets, Marcos sheds his false persona, revealing himself to be a seasoned con artist with a grand scheme worth much higher stakes. Intrigued by this twist of fate, Juan accepts Marcos' invitation to join him in a once-in-a-lifetime hustle. An ailing old-time swindler named Sandler proposes to them an irresistible opportunity - to sell a forged set of the ultra-rare and extremely valuable stamps, the Nine Queens, to a hotel-bound Spanish collector Vidal Gandolfo, who is set to leave the next morning. As the duo delves deeper into the intricate web of deceit, they encounter a motley crew of characters, from Marcos' estranged sister Valeria and their younger brother Federico to a complex network of thieves, con artists, and pickpockets, each with their own hidden agendas. The plot thickens as Marcos distributes percentages amongst these swindlers, creating a tense and unpredictable environment where it's becoming increasingly difficult to discern who's swindling whom. As the day unfolds, so does a labyrinth of deceptions and betrayals, leaving the viewer in suspense of who will ultimately hold the upper hand in this high-stakes game of bluff and double-cross. Through the bustling streets of Buenos Aires to the opulent corridors of a five-star hotel, 'Nine Queens' is a riveting journey into the world of crime and deceit, where nothing is as it seems.

Nine Queens is a crime movie featuring Claudio Rissi and directed by Fabián Bielinsky.

Nine Queens is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.