Dad Wanted

In DAD WANTED, 10-year-old Blanca (Natalia Coronado) is a spoiled, rebellious kid who loves BMX cycling. But her mother, Fernanda (Silvia Navarro), has forbidden even getting on her beloved bike since Blanca's father was killed in a biking accident. Her mother's inability to help Blanca through the grief has resulted in a chilly relationship. Blanca barely speaks to her mom, who is a busy movie producer and rarely home anyway. Mari (Aleyda Gallardo), the housekeeper, does most of the parenting and puts up with Blanca's rudeness. When Blanca learns of a major BMX race, she and her friend Laura plot to find a pretend "dad" to perform the required in-person sign-up for the race that her mother would veto. They set up elaborate anonymous auditions using Mom's casting connections and select Alberto (Juan Pablo Medina), a down-on-his-luck cab driver who used to be a popular actor. He's in mourning, too, and quit acting after his daughter was killed in an accident. Reluctant at first, Alberto is charmed by the dogged Blanca. Her presence helps heal him as they raise money together for Blanca's new bike by performing magic on the street. When Fernanda finds out, a reckoning follows that changes everyone involved.