In a world where parental responsibilities continue to follow traditional gender roles, Achero Mañas’s third feature imagines how a father might respond to being thrust into a role traditionally held by a woman.
Leo and Alicia live together in Madrid with their four-year-old daughter, Dafne. Although they both work, Alicia is the one that spends the most time with their child. Leo is more concerned with his job at a law firm and spends more time away from home. The situation works very well for all three until Alicia’s unexpected death leaves both Leo and Dafne stranded.
Leo has to decide if he can take care of Dafne on his own, finding the strength to be both mother and father to her. Reeling from loss, Dafne asks her dad to find an artificial mother to help her get to sleep at night. With the help of a new friend, Leo discovers a way to overcome his own prejudices about gender roles and provide his daughter with the kind of nurturing she needs during her difficult grieving period. In the process, he almost loses his own identity and faces much discrimination.
As displayed in his previous work, Mañas has the ability to strike an emotional chord that audiences can relate to, while also presenting morally complex situations with intelligence and compassion. His latest film conveys some wonderful messages about love, tolerance and acceptance. Complemented by stand-out performances by both Juan Diego Botto and four-year old Lucía Fernández, Anything You Want demonstrates the power of unconditional love.