Spanish Film Festival – Mugaritz. No Bread, No Dessert Rating
★★★★★
Click if you liked this article
Paco Plaza’s “Mugaritz: No Bread, No Dessert” is a poetic documentary that explores the inner workings of one of the world’s most inventive restaurants – Mugaritz. Led by chef Andoni Luis Aduriz, a self-proclaimed non-leader steering his energetic staff with generosity and “stepping back”, the restaurant closes from November to April each year to recreate its thematic menu. For 2025, the culinary concept is “What Cannot Be Seen”.
Plaza’s wobbly, handheld camera is distracting as it allows us to observe the detailed process of creation, trial and perfection through the eyes of what appears to be an overly caffeinated voyeur. There are many scenarios which could have been left out, minimised or replaced with more moments of tension (more than the one shown) to alleviate the feeling of being in an hour-and-a-half board meeting.
The music, composed by Mikel Salas, is bizarre. Salas uses cutlery and frying pans in an effort to match the poeticism of the cuisine, yet ends up making one feel as if they are listening to an Apple iPhone alarm instead of a sumptuous musical score. However, visually, the documentary delights.
The pastoral Basque countryside, the streamlined, cosy restaurant and the new ways in which the fragile dishes are put together all combine to give the audience a real feast for the eyes. There is an entrée tea ceremony where the cups are made from frozen, green tea leaves; then comes a broth only reachable by breaking into an edible bone with a rock and notably a soup-like-substance whereby the diner has to lean down and lick it out of a mould made to look like…well, it’s naughty.
Although “No Bread, No Dessert” has been applauded for its appeal to the masses, this reviewer feels this will appeal especially to the restauranteur and food lovers. It is fascinating for the risk-taker-chefs and those who are interested in combining cooking with storytelling. As Aduriz himself says, it is “…small sparkles and little pearls”.
Based on a true story, and what an exceptional tale. Marco, The Invented Truth tells of the deception that charismatic Enric Marco unrelentingly and unapologetically carried with him for most of his life. Premiering in Australia at the 2025 HSBC Spanish Film Festival, this film is a gem that is well worth the investment of a packed 100 minutes of time.
A Spanish factory worker in Germany during World War II, Marco contrived the story of being a Holocaust survivor, in his mind to highlight the plight of approximately 9000 Spanish deportees who were imprisoned in concentration camps during the war – less than half of whom survived. Enric Marco was appointed as president of the Amincal Mauthausen, the association set up to defend the rights of the 9,000 Spanish people who were sent to Nazi concentration camps. His tireless work, which included giving numerous talks to school children, was revered.
His courage while suffering the horrors of Flossenbürg, the camp in which he claims to have been held prisoner, was given great respect and admiration, and through his efforts, Marco brought the organisation to great heights. That was until his false assertions were uncovered by historian Benito Bermejo who declared him a fake; he had never been in a concentration camp. The reality was that Enric Marco volunteered to travel to Germany in 1941 to work for the German war machine.
Although in fact Marco was imprisoned in Germany, it was not in a concentration camp but rather a Gestapo jail, accused of spreading Communist propaganda. A master storyteller who never apologised for his indiscretions upset many, although he was unrelenting in his belief that what he did, he did for good reasons.
Written by Aitor Arregi, Jon Garaño, Jorge Gil Munarriz, and Jose Mari Goenaga, the building of the lie was directed believably by Aitor Arregi and Jon Garaño as they work to take the audience on a roller coaster of emotions that fall somewhere between sympathy and dismay. 2025 Spanish Cinema Writers Circle Award winner for Best Actor, Spanish born Eduard Fernández’ depicts Enric Marco with extraordinary poise. If for no other reason, and there are many, Marco, The Invented Truth is worth watching for Fernández’ stunning performance alone.
Spanish Film Festival – Babies Don’t Come With Instructions Rating
★★★★★
Click if you liked this article
Babies Don’t Come with Instructions is a 2024 Spanish comedy-drama film directed by Marina Seresesky and written by Marta Sánchez and Irene Niubó, based on the 2013 Mexican film Instructions Not Included.
Leo is a carefree womaniser, living a self-centred life in a small coastal town in the Canary Islands. His world is turned upside down when a woman from a brief, casual affair shows up, drops off their daughter, and leaves, making him responsible for her.
At first, Leo intends to return the girl to her mother, but his attempts fail. Forced to raise her, little by little, he learns how to be a father, and his values and priorities shift in unexpected ways. Years pass, filled with happiness, until the mother reappears intending to reclaim her daughter. Will he give her up easily, especially with a mystery illness?
Director Marina Seresesky has pulled out all stops to extract every nuance of Sanchez and Niubo’s script and given us a taste of the Canary Islands in all its scenic wonder.
The characters are well drawn, and the action is well paced. I particularly enjoyed the developing relationship between Leo and his ‘daughter’ Alba. It tugs at the heart strings and a tear or two!
Paco Leon’s Leo is vulnerable and takes us on a journey from a unexpected father to a devoted parent who cannot live without his daughter and wants to enjoy his little girl before time runs out! The scenes when he is climbing up buildings are beautifully photographed.
Maia Zaitegi’s Alba is everything a little girl should be – innocent, naïve, idealistic and devoted to her father. The scene when she returns to Leo after being taken to Munich by her biological mother is charged with emotion.
Silvia Alonso’s Julia has the difficult role of the mother who abandons her child and returns to get her eight years later. This could have resulted in a performance that creates a disagreeable character, but not so Alonso’s portrayal. One can see her viewpoint and we feel for her.
Malcolm Treviño-Sitté’s Modu is the best friend we all wish we had. He is loyal to his wife, but equally loyal to Leo and supportive especially when he learns of his life-threatening illness.
The remaining cast give solid performances that enhance the main characters and storyline.
It is interesting that the décor Alba’s bedroom grows as her relationship with her father grows. It is every little girl’s paradise with a swing, a slide from her bunk bed to the floor, toys everywhere and an immense picture wall of her and her father.
Babies Don’t Come With Instructions is a heart-warming comedy that is sure to please any theatre goer who is a parent or simply enjoys a good story with a message. It is a cinematic gem and definitely worth a watch!
Oz Comic-Con is not only for comic book fans (although the con does boast a comic book lounge, equipped with bean bags and comic books to borrow), but for fans of any following. As you walk around the showground, you may spot Deadpool and Wolverine hanging out, but you could run into John Wick, the Doctor and his TARDIS, Darth Vader or Captain Rex, Freddy Fazbear, Hatsune Miku, and countless others.
There’s a consistent buzz of excitement in the air while like-minded people meet others from within their fandoms during the community space meetups; exchanging fan theories, trading cards, and keyrings at the trading post; giving tips on how to improve your cosplay game at the workshop stage; and meeting the voice actors from popular shows such as “Hazbin Hotel”, “Genshin Impact”, “Fire Emblem Heroes”, and more. If you ever get lost, the volunteers roaming the space are all very friendly and more than happy to help.
The big names (in alphabetical order) for Oz Comic-Con, with schedules for autographs, photo opportunities, meet and greets, and Q&A’s, consisted of: Brandon Rogers (“Helluva Boss”; “Hazbin Hotel), Catherine Tate (“The Catherine Tate Show”; “Doctor Who”), Giancarlo Esposito (“Breaking Bad”; “The Mandalorian”), Laila Berzins (“Genshin Impact”; “HunterXHunter”), and Ratana (“Genshin Impact”; “Fire Emblem”). The lines to meet these talented actors and voice actors were so thick, the tables for the talent were not visible, only their official Oz Comic-Con signs on the wall above their heads. Seating for the Q&A’s filled rapidly for each new guest – if you wanted to see your favourite actor, you had to be sure to line up early!
Along the outskirts of Artists Alley, there is a Comic-Con store, for all your previous Comic-Con guests’ autograph needs; a space for tabletop gaming, where a collection of games, including “Catan” and “Rummikub”, are available to play with your friends; the Australian eSports League has a setup of PC and consoles to show off your skills; learn to play “Magic: The Gathering” trading card game with friends or strangers; and show off your dance moves on the Just Dance stage. The South Australian chapter of “Ghostbusters” can be found roaming, keeping everyone safe, while Daleks stand on guard next to the main stage, whether they were ready to pose with fans, or pose a threat, remained unclear.
Roaming Artists Alley, be sure to give yourself time to look at each booth, otherwise your neck may snap from trying to take in everything at once! The booths range in size, giving a marketplace, or bazaar-like, experience, with t-shirts, oversized biscuits, anime and manga collectables, Funko Pop Characters, local-made honey and mead (yes, at the same booth), handmade tankards and leather goods, framed insects, handmade jewellery, Melbourne’s Dr. Pickles tattoos, and even the ADF and Beyond Blue, talking to curious customers about how to join or volunteer with them.
The smaller booths consist of six rows of local artists showcasing their talents and merchandise on single tables – some with shelving, some with displays almost six feet high, and some with simple printouts – ranging from keychains to art posters to novels and much, much more. Artists were local, most being from Adelaide, but some hailed from interstate, excited to meet fans and introduce their work to new people. All the artists are more than excited to talk about their work, answering questions and having a casual conversation in general.
Kylie Chan, Queensland author of the “Dark Heavens” series, said she found herself excited to be meeting the next generation of fans. Owen Heitmann, Adelaide comic creator, explained that people come to cons to see and buy what they know, so the con provides an opportunity for local artists to expand their network, without having to rely on social media – a statement that both Keelan Ash of killustrate_illustrations and Lushie from Lushie’s Art both agreed with.
Oz Comic-Con is more than a home base for fans to emerge and converge, it’s an opportunity for local artists to show themselves to a wider audience, and it’s a fun, safe space for exhibitors, attendees, guests, and volunteers alike. Service pets are allowed, the spaces are wide enough for electric wheelchairs and scooters to roam freely (the throngs of people may be the largest obstacle), and the Code of Conduct means Oz Comic-Con protects those of all ages and dis/abilities.
Popular culture is alive, thriving, and … popular! Don’t miss out on a chance for those collectables, and a chance to meet like-minded fans.
To book tickets to Oz Comic-Con in your city, please check for dates and times @ https://ozcomiccon.com/.
