With a spate of accolades to his name for his debut effort El Bola and sophomore feature November, and acclaim following his third movie Blackwhite, Spanish actor turned writer and director Achero Mañas returns with his fourth full-length film Anything You Want (Todo lo que tú quieras). Exploring life after loss, the latest offering from the son of writer Alfredo Mañas and actress Paloma Lorena is a delicate and intricate drama about relationships, responsibility and the role of children in helping their parents cope with the hardships of life.
Ignorant of adversity amidst their domestic bliss, mild-mannered lawyer Leo (Juan Diego Botto), his wife Alicia (Ana Risueño) and their four-year-old daughter Dafne (Lucía Fernández) live a simple yet satisfying existence. Although Leo’s legal wranglings pose their share of problems and Dafne’s curiosity requires constant supervision, the family is content in their comfortable routine.
When Alicia passes away suddenly and unexpectedly, Leo is left with sole responsibility for Dafne’s care. Struggling to come to terms with his own grief, let alone guide his daughter through the tragedy, he avoids rather than confronts the reality of the situation. Yet, as time passes and their paths intersect with others outside the cocoon of mourning, their outlook adapts slowly but surely. Looking beyond the accepted notion of normality to adjust to their predicament, the pair embrace any and every way, no matter how unconventional, to move forward.
The Spanish are renowned for their mastery of melodrama, with Anything You Want fitting within the expected mould. However, as the film’s title intimates, underneath the overt sentimentality lies an offbeat sense of survival that permeates the protagonists in the most unlikely of ways, stemming from Dafne’s innocent insistence that her father procure her a replacement matriarch, and Leo’s unwavering desire to conform to his daughter’s demands.
Indeed, in a narrative reminiscent of the oeuvre of Pedro Almodovar, Mañas’ feature plays with gender as a fluid yet formative construct. Daring to subvert societal expectations within the confines of sorrow and sacrifice, the film provides a sweetly surreal insight into the alternative aftermath of emotional affliction. Buoyed by heartfelt performances from Botto and Fernández, the resulting effort is illuminating as well as engaging in its difference. Demonstrating brightness amidst the bleakest of scenarios, Anything You Want is quirky and quietly compelling.
By Sarah Ward
Anything You Want / Todo lo que tú quieras is screening:
Sydney – Saturday 14 May 6.45pm - Q & A with Director Achero Mañas (Chauvel, Paddington)
Sunday 15 May 3.45pm – Q & A with Director Achero Mañas (Palace Norton St, Leichhardt)
Monday 16 May 6.30pm (Palace Norton St, Leichhardt)
Tuesday 17 May 8.45pm (Chauvel, Paddington)
Melbourne – Friday 13 May 7.00pm – Q & A with Director Achero Mañas (Palace Cinema Como)
Thursday 19 May 6.30pm (Kino Cinemas)
Friday 20 May 6.45pm (Palace Cinema, Como)
Saturday 21 May 9.00pm (Kino Cinemas)
Sunday 22 May 2.15pm (Palace Cinema, Como)
Brisbane – Saturday 28 May 8.45pm (Palace Centro)
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