an unreachable place
The port of Barcelona handles around 70 million tons of goods annually, making it a crucial hub for European trade. In 2023, authorities seized about 10,000 kilos of cocaine hidden in containers from around the world, yet experts estimate that this amount represents only a small fraction of the drugs entering the city. This reality positions Barcelona as a key gateway to Europe and underscores the persistent dangers of drug trafficking in the region. The filmmaker responsible for Bajocero grew aware of these dynamics and decided to place the story in his hometown, focusing on the port that shapes so much of its fate.
The series centers on its protagonist, Joaquin Manchado, who is portrayed as the port’s principal operator. He builds a network that helps illicit shipments slip into ordinary cargo streams, using the port’s routine operations as cover. He wears an orthopedic prosthesis due to a missing hand, yet rules his family and his criminal network with an iron resolve. The formidable cast includes Chino Darín, Sergi López, Enric Auquer, Jaime Lorente, and Natalia de Molina, delivering performances that intensify the drama surrounding power and loyalty.
The disappearance of a major cocaine shipment sparks a brutal clash, unleashing a war marked by murders and retaliation. The story blends action, revenge, and betrayal in a tense thriller atmosphere. The creators stress that while the series draws on real cases involving dock workers, customs officials, and infiltrated police, the narrative remains a work of fiction. The setting moves through the port district alongside streets like the Raval, Parallel, and Barceloneta, echoing the genre roots of Quinqui cinema while presenting a contemporary, street-focused perspective.
Beyond a contemporary portrait, the show revisits Barcelona as it existed in earlier decades. Flashbacks illuminate the origins of the central characters, and each episode delves into a different member of the Manchado family. This structure gradually pieces together a complex, multi-layered puzzle that reframes the series around a distinctive mix of plots and personal histories.
an unreachable place
The director explains that all locations feel authentic and that the port itself is the story’s true heartbeat. The shoot lasted five months and presented unique challenges due to the chosen setting. The port is visually compelling but demanding to shoot in, with restricted access and intricate operations. The team describes the experience as akin to filming a documentary where the machinery and workflows narrate much of the drama, and realism is the aim for a credible depiction of port life.
In this portrayal, port equipment becomes almost a character in its own right. The project seeks to strike a balance between documentary-like realism and a gripping fictional arc, allowing viewers to glimpse how certain processes unfold while following a larger, fictional intrigue. The narrative emphasizes atmosphere and immediacy over ornament, using practical details to ground the story in a tangible world of shipping, security, and power struggles.
The ensemble describes a web of mutual distrust and shifting loyalties. The prototype figure at the center of the web is depicted as a powerful, principled operator whose authority tests the loyalties of those around him. The cast members describe the plot as a puzzle where what appears true can quickly be upended by new information and hidden motives.
without speaking Catalan
Although the production was filmed in Barcelona, the series does not include Catalan dialogue. The creator explains that attempting to depict bilingual interactions in a natural way can feel forced or distracting. The choice was made to keep focus on the dream-like, cinematic immersion of The Iron Hand, letting language recede so audiences can engage with the story and its mood more directly. This approach aims to invite viewers into an experience that emphasizes atmosphere and character dynamics over linguistic detail while maintaining authenticity in tone and setting.