As biopics go, Cassandro skews towards the conventional. It follows a template familiar to anyone who has seen a life-story movie about the underdog climbing up the ranks thanks to their unmatchable heart and talent. But it’s also a template that’s elevated by Bernal’s wonderful performance and Roger Ross Williams’ careful and naturalistic direction. Save for a few melodramatic moments, many parts of Cassandro feel fresh and authentic, not least of which is Saúl’s heartwarming relationship with his mother Yocasta (Perla De La Rosa). It’s unapologetic joy is another element that sets it apart: instead of being punished for his flamboyance and cheer, Saúl is rewarded for it. This seems like a rare triumph in LGBTQ+ stories, and on that merit alone Cassandro deserves to be seen.
"Cassandro may muscle and wink his way into the spotlight, but nothing about the effort is easy. This film is as interested in the struggle as it is in the moments of triumph."
— Jen Chaney
"Balances the triumphant exaltation of Arbendáriz’s singular evolution as a trailblazer who didn’t set out to become one, with the obvious, still not entirely eliminated bigotry that made his trajectory so significant and groundbreaking in the first place."
— Carlos Aguilar
The true story of Saúl Armendáriz, a gay amateur wrestler from El Paso that rises to international stardom after he creates the character Cassandro, the “Liberace of Lucha Libre.” In the process, he upends not just the macho wrestling world but also his own life.
Follows the true story of Saúl Armendáriz (Gael García Bernal), an openly gay wrestler who broke barriers in the lucha libre scene in the 1980s.
Inarguably the most rousing part of the film is when we see Cassandro emerge from the shadows for the first time. Maskless and with nothing to hide, he jumps on the ring and plays to win, which is unexpected from exóticos like him at the time. He’s not just there for show, he’s there to be a champion, and Bernal does a perfect blend of athleticism and exhibition to achieve Cassandro’s goals. That first time we see him is thrilling and victorious, and you can say what you want about clichés and schmaltz, at least Cassandro knows how to maximize it.
Gael García Bernal can do no wrong.
Sundance
1 nomination
