Cassandro

Premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival at the Premieres Selection.

Firstly, I appreciate the movie exploring a humanistic approach on wrestling within the Mexican and LGBTQ communities as director Roger Ross Williams does a solid job on capturing the essence and atmosphere within the environment and characters. Wrestling isn't something I fully engage with so the movie wasn't something I was able to fully connect with but as a whole, the movie was a solid watch with strong performances and a beautiful visual presentation.

The production and colors are pretty good with the camerawork showing beautiful angles and shots around the setting. Williams direction, while it does feel a little stale, mostly was good as the direction was maintained well and strong. The performances from the cast members are all pretty good as each performances wee strong and engaging. Narrative-wise, the movie is the standard predictable biopic movie and if I had like wrestling, I would have connected with the movie more but since I don't, I struggled to fully engage with the narrative. I mostly found the narrative to be cliche and no fully investing. As the same for the characters. The character of Cassandro is likable as his personality, charm and chemistry is strong but regarding the other characters, I didn't found them to be as interesting or connectable to care much about.

Most of the sound design is good and moments with wrestling were well conducted and choreographed. Pacing does need some improvement. There are some dialogue moments that were a bit rough and not sure if it's just me, I noticed there were some really noticeable ADR moments that did took out the experience a little. Overall, it's a decent biopic.

Gael García Bernal is great in this entertaining biopic of the eponymous wrestler who rose from Texan oblivion and poverty to international acclaim. We learn fairly early on that he and his mother "Jocasta" (Perla De La Rosa) get by after his father abandoned them by working loads of different jobs and by him taking on the role of an "exotico" - a sort of "glamour" wrestler - in a makeshift garage where his job is to camp things up and then get beaten by a guy twice his size. Aside from the fact that it hurts, he decides that he wants a new home for him and his mum, and that he also has the skill to take things a bit further professionally. Together with his new-found, kick-ass, trainer "Sabrina" (Roberta Colindrez) he decides to create the new character of "Cassandro" to become the first of his creed to actually win! What now ensues is quite a messy film, technically - the editing and continuity are not very good, but the sheer charisma of the star as he portrays this openly gay man in a world that offers him little but hostility is frequently quite amusing and engaging to watch. There's a little bit of (complicated) love interest for him, too, but essentially it's Bernal hamming it up, Liberace style, in the ring where he is adept and pinning down (not an euphemism) gents far more substantial than himself. Like stories of boxing in general, it's illustrative of just how few opportunities there are for those trapped in a cycle of poverty to escape the mundanity of their lives - especially when their sexuality doesn't exactly conform either; and it also demonstrates well just how a community thrives on and values these makeshift, almost bare-knuckle, events. I knew nothing at all about the "Lucha Libre" culture so that proved quite an eye-opener too - particularly when reconciled with a strong but not overwhelming gay storyline. Maybe it doesn't need to be seen in a cinema, but I did enjoy it and it's well worth a watch.

With equal parts spectacle, grief, sadness, joy, sorry and... (no spoilers) Gael Gabriel Bernal gives us Cassandro! The film avoids most of the sports movie tropes, other than a training video with Sabrina, played by Roberta Colindrez, who is a female luchadora and trainer. She is spot on as Saul's (Cassandro's) friend and the mother is played by well by actress Perla de la Rosa. The whole cast is great and while I am not a fan of Lucho Libre, the film gives us an interesting take on the art form. Cassandro is an exotico (drag queen luchador) and the film is a tribute to the exoticos that came before. The ending does not disappoint.

# Pay full price.

No pun intended - I reckon if you know a little bit about Wrestling, than I assume you have heard of the Macho Man. Maybe you've even seen him (live or in clips). But this is not so much about the American Wrestling world, but more of the Lucha Libres ... Mexican style if you want to call it that.

I am not an expert in that world and apart from a movie or two, I got most things from someone who made it in America: Rey Mysterio. What I didn't know for a long time: Wrestlers really need their masks! Unmasking one is an absolute no go - they lose everything. There is stuff to learn (history and all that), if you want to. Cassandro is a completely different beast - though I am not sure beast is something many would call him. Actually they call him an exoctico - I don't think I need to translate that.

Gael Garcia is an amazing actor - you probably know by now. Here he is playing a real individual - someone who had to overcome his own shadow/sexuality ... or rather what others think of that. Not easy - performing laying it all out for everyone to see ... and you can see it in his performance. It is in the eyes as someone once said - probably a lot have said that. But it is true, so there you go.

The wrestling scenes are really well done - there is a lot of physicality to them. Love life there is also some physicality, not that much though if you are afraid of that. So depending on how open minded you are, you may be able to watch this or not. I am not judging either way - you may be. Again this is up to you - one thing is for sure: do not watch this if you know you will be repelled by it! You won't do anyone a favor - quite the opposite.

In the end we are all human, we all want to be loved one way or another ... multiple ways for some of course. It's a struggle, it is a fight ... always get up when down (easier said then done, I know .. but you have to keep remembering this)

Truly captures a great journey of finding your true self! We need more inspiring movies like this one for both the LGBTQ+ and Mexican communities! Had I known a story like this existed, it would have helped so much growing up. Being part of both communities, I felt so connected to several parts of the film. A film like this is so important to share with future generations! I laughed, I felt the toxic nature of several situations, I truly connected with parts of Cassandro's struggle. Without giving too much away, this is a movie not to be missed. The direction and acting were both stellar and i cannot wait to share this with others!