During the finals of the 1986 Trinidad Calypso Monarch contest, the defending champion, Black Stalin, was hoping to beat rising stars David Rudder and Duke to keep his crown. One Hand Don’t Clap, a beautiful documentary that captured the event, follows the competitors as they prepare to perform – but its director, Kavery Kaul, doesn’t seem hugely concerned with who wins.
Her film, newly restored and rereleased, is much more focused on two legendary calypso giants who are attending the contest. Looking on from the sidelines, they reflect on their own lives, their triumphs and setbacks – and their love for their music. Lord Kitchener and his protege Calypso Rose are the film’s unrivalled stars.
