“I wanna flip it! I wanna turn it around!”
Genre I’d put it in: Moving And Magnificent Sports Biopics
Release Date: 2023
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Based on the life of Saúl Armendáriz, better known in wrestling as Cassandro.
Story: In the world of Lucha Libre (“freestyle wresting”), there are good guys and bad guys. And Exótico (wrestler in drag) is typically portrayed as a baddie, but when Saúl Armendáriz decides to inhabit the Exótico character of Cassandro? Oh have the turned, tables!
Gotta say: I decided to check out this docudrama based on the poster alone. C’mon- doesn’t Gael García Bernal look amazing in that gorgeous fit? Who wouldn’t want to see more of this “character”? And I’m so glad I did. Cassandro ( henceforth shortened to Cass to both differentiate between the real performer and the film, and to make things easier on my lazy tuchas) is a brilliant film that spotlights a little known (in the US at least) sports legend whose journey to fame was not only fabulous, but important. Cassandro was Lucha Libre’s first “heroic” Exótico, paving the way for more wrestlers like him, and a broader acceptance of homosexuality in Central America. All while rocking an absolutely killer eyeliner. Not too shabby at all.
Cass‘ dialogue is a realistic mix of English and Spanish, which helped pull me into the world of Lucha Libre. Writers David Teague and Roger Ross Williams (who also serves as director) took years to get the right feel and sound for this story, and their respect for this story shows. Williams has a deft hand with the camera, using a varied range of shots to capture the frenetic pace of wrestling, as well as the tender moments between Saúl and his supportive mother Yocasta (played with uncompromising love by Perla De La Rosa). Cass shift from fast-paced action to touching emotion seamlessly; maybe too seamlessly, because Williams’ touch makes it look easy. [Spoiler: it’s not.]
The film shows how the road to Saúl’s Cassandro being a hero was a rough one. Centuries of macho posturing both in the sport and culture. But when Saúl decides to go for it and become an Exótico, you can feel his liberation. Cassandro says and does things the shy, withdrawn Saúl would at first never dare… But person and character merge into a man who knows what he wants, and embraces life as well as fame. This personal and professional growth is echoed in several of his relationships; there’s his lover Gerardo, a married man who chooses to stay firmly in the closet, and crush Felipe (Bad Bunny/Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio), a man who’s more in touch with who he is. Then there’s Saúl’s relationship with his father, who all but disowned Saúl when the wrestler was a boy. The pull of his father – and how Saúl comes to terms with their relationship – is a cornerstone of the film.
Special shout-out to Roberta Colindrez as Saúl/Cassandro’s trainer Sabrina. Sabrina is Saúl’s backbone when he needs one, and his biggest cheerleader when Cassandro takes to the ring. While the characters scenes are low-key, they’re part of what gives this film its heart. Plus? There are cameos from several well-known Luchadors, including Gigántico, El Hijo del Santo/Son of Santo,and more, which fans of Lucha Libre will enjoy seeing. It’s yet another touch that gives Cass a beautifully gritty realism that swept me away. Now if you’ll excuse me, as I’m down for the count after being blown away by this film? I’ll need some agua fresca…and a nap.
#Protip: Cassandro hits theaters in limited release on the 15th, but this Amazon Prime produced film hits that streaming service on September 22nd.
