THE DAD QUEST/ LO MEJOR DEL MUNDO

Mexico, 2025, 83 minutes, Colour.

Michel Brown, Martino Leonardi, Mayra Hermosillo.

Directed by Salvador Espinosa.

The Dad Quest is a brief Mexican comedy drama, focus on the 10 year old, Benito, Martino Leonardi in his sole film appearance, his relationship with his mother, his father divorced, staying with his grandmother. Then it emerges that Gallo, his divorced father, is not his biological father.

Gallo and Benito go on a quest, bonding, searching his deceased mother’s phone for connections as to who is his biological father, a visit to an artist, a gym instructor, a television personality, getting information from a psychologist. The two are joined in the search of their mother’s friend, Diana.

There seems to be a happy solution with the boss of the agency for which Benito’s mother worked. They bond nicely but audiences are not sure whether he is the actual biological father. He warmly welcomes Benito. However, with the experience of travelling with Gallo, Benito and Diana run after Gallo as he leaves.

A caring foster father offers more support than an unknown or discovered biological parent.

1. The title? Father-son relationships, biological, care?
2. The Mexican setting, homes, outings, the encounters with potential fathers? The musical score?
3. The introduction to Gallo, the airport, relationship with Alicia, the meal together, the background of the divorce, Benito, aged 10, custody, visits? Her exasperation, suggestion he was not the biological father, her exit, the accident, her death, the funeral?
4. Gallo, the television work, his personality, working with his boss, the TV sequences? Memories of Alicia? Distant relationship with Benito? The encounters with Alicia’s mother, Benito staying with her, her idiosyncratic behaviour, the injury to the lizard…?
5. Benito, aged 10, relationship with his mother, with Gallo? The alienation? The issue of his mother’s death, staying with his grandmother, his awareness of the situation, direct talk? His wanting to find his biological father?
6. Gallo, the DNA test and the results? Talking with Benito? Benito and his mother’s phone, the candidates for his paternity? The quest? Going to the artist, the many portraits of Alicia, her pregnancy, and the later gift as asking for forgiveness? TV star, the clash with Gallo, non-admittance? The trainer, his work with Alicia and her program, the dance, inviting Benito to start child classes?
7. Gallo preoccupied, his boss, the change of set, her following him, his decision to go to Miami for a job? Changing his mind in staying?
8. The visit to the psychologist, Gallo and his threats, the information? The visit to the agent, his happy memories of Alicia? Possibly the father?
9. Diana, her friendship with Gallo, going on the search, her interventions, support?
10. Gallo and his leaving, the emotional ties to Benito after the event, the walkie-talkie Communications, sharing the meals, the visits, the journey? Benito embracing the agent, the agent and his wife and daughter, Benito and Diana hurrying to join Gallo?
11. The significance of biological paternity, identity, the foster father? The future?