In between all the bed-hopping and wild partying, Leo’s approached by ‘Julia’ (Silvia Alonso), a former conquest who has a baby named Alba and really needs somewhere to stay for the night.
Naturally, the rugrat is his, and ‘Julia’ sneaks off in the morning leaving him with the bub, leading him to pursue her to Bilbao and unsuccessfully try to find her somehow. And, naturally, he winds up settling in the city thanks to a real plot-convenience character named Modu (Malcolm Treviño-Sitté).
Years pass and Alba grows up to be a cluey kid (Maia Zaitegi) living with Leo in a renovated attic, and at his side all the time because he doesn’t seem to, you know, work (but yes, worrying about money would rather spoil the fun). However, things take a turn when, you guessed it, Mum reappears and wants custody of their daughter, as the story seems ready to stray in a darker direction.
Something of a calculated charmer, this will surely win you over enough simply because León and Zaitegi are so sympathetic, despite the looming clichés. But surely a few extra plot batteries should have been included.
BABIES DON’T COME WITH INSTRUCTIONS (CTC)
(3 stars out of 5)
Babies Don’t Come With Instructions is screening as part of the HSBC Spanish Film Festival 2025. Book at palacenova.com.au
