Review: Cassandro

Directed by: Roger Ross Williams

Written by: Roger Ross Williams & David Teague

Starring: Gael García Bernal, Roberta Colindrez, Perla De La Rosa, Joaquín Cosío, Raúl Castillo

Rating: [3.5/5]

Wrestling, although an athletic endeavor, still remains a scripted presentation that gets the audience to cheer and boo for these manufactured storylines. It makes the individuals who want to receive the spotlight ensure themselves receiving the proper role but as seen in Cassandro, at times these wrestlers need to forge their own path and create their story. Crowd pleasing in its presentation, this film proves to be quite the look at how this played out for one icon in the lucha libre scene. 

Crossing the border into Mexico to compete as a wrestler named “El Topo”, Saúl Armendáriz (Gael García Bernal) feels displeased with the opportunities presented to him in the ring by the managers. After receiving training from Sabrina (Roberta Colindrez), they decide to play into the homophobia of the wrestling fans and play into an Exótico role as Saúl becomes Cassandro, a gay figure that can operate as a villain. 

Homophobia and Mexican sports are not necessarily new and unfortunately not a thing of the past as well if you just follow what transpires at when the Mexican futbol team plays and the hot water the fans get into with their chants. As one can imagine, things were even worse in the 1980s but the already gay Saúl found the opportunity to play into this general homophobia and fulfill his dream of making it as a wrestler at this stage. A man of his stature never had the chance to receive the roles of the hero so he forged a path for himself. Saúl knew of the perception held for his sexual identity and he saw no reason to fight against a system or beliefs an individual had and decided to instead make money from it and rise up the ranks because at the end of the day it all comes down to entertainment. 

Cassandro has elements of the typical sports biopic where we have the humble beginnings, the hard work taken to reach the top, the personal issues, and then the eventual rise to the top they dreamt of from the beginning. Nothing about this film seeks to want to break away from the mold, but what ultimately makes it stand out comes from the character of Saúl who brings this infectious energy to the story. He becomes this instantly likeable character to follow along with this journey. The relationship he has to the women in his life, which includes his mother and his coach also highlight how much it means to him to make it within this sport. Nothing else would quench that thirst has developed and this drive makes it so easy to root for him. He will do just about anything to get this done and that drive and determination solidifies the appeal these stories carry. 

Gael García Bernal simply refuses to turn in a bad performance and it came as no surprise he splendidly captured Saúl and this journey into growing the name Cassandro into one known all over the wrestling scene in all of Mexico. Bernal just brings this aura to every character he takes on, with this particular softness that further humanizes Saúl for and really makes us feel for this journey he must undertake to accomplish his dreams. He has that special touch and he certainly elevates the film as a whole becomes he can make even the smallest role memorable and he does just that with taking on every beat of what Saúl will do to reach the zenith and have his name chanted or booed by the wrestling public. He proves once again he’s nowhere close to losing his fastball. 

A genuine crowd pleasing journey and a good summation of what makes sports stories so inspirational, Cassandro pretty much hits every note it needs to. While it does not display the best wrestling scenes for a film focusing on the sport to this degree, we do get the important moments of this performance of Saúl as Cassandro on stage. It makes for the best moments of the film, especially when he takes his venture to Mexico City and has the opportunity to show out just as he mapped it out in his dreams. Gael García Bernal does it again and helps give this film a big stamp of approval.