Gael García Bernal stars as Cassandro, a homosexual wrestler who grew to become an unlikely star in Mexico. This true story is a significant crowdpleaser.
PLOT: A homosexual beginner wrestler in El Paso reinvents himself as an “exotico” wrestler named Cassandro and turns into an unlikely star.
REVIEW: Cassandro relies on an unlikely however very cool true story. Gael Garcia Bernal performs Saúl Armendáriz, a struggling beginner luchador who reinvented himself as a flamboyant wrestler named Cassandro. He was an “exotico”, which was a stereotypically homosexual class of wrestler that was sometimes demolished to the delight of homophobic audiences. However, Cassandro was totally different. His profitable persona and bodily prowess gained over his audiences, and he grew to become one thing that was virtually extraordinary in Mexico, an exotico who gained matches.
It’s a wonderful function for Bernal, who will get a juicy function he can sink his tooth into. The character permits him to point out his aptitude for comedy, his psychical prowess within the well-choreographed wrestling scenes, and heartfelt poignancy at occasions too. A lot of the film centres round Saúl’s relationship along with his supportive mom, Yocasta, performed by an affecting Perla de la Rosa. His desires of wealth primarily exist so he can purchase his mom a modest home in El Paso. But, he’s additionally not ridiculously idealized both, with him proven to be headstrong and reckless, to the purpose that he goes on a coke and booze binge the evening earlier than the largest match of his profession. He has a self-destructive facet, with him partaking in a one-sided relationship with a married wrestler (Raul Castillo), who he desires to go away his household.
Nonetheless, you stay firmly on Cassandra’s facet all through. Whereas the homophobia of the wrestling world is acknowledged, it’s not dwelled upon both. Cassandro really meets a bunch of people that you anticipate to change into pink herrings however wind up being first rate. His crooked promoter, Lorenzo (Joaquín Cosío) is introduced sympathetically, and his coke vendor, performed by Dangerous Bunny (the long run El Muerto) in a small function, is in the end additionally proven to be a comparatively good, non-homophobic man.
Better of all, Roberta Colindrez is a feminine wrestler who trains Cassandro and takes him underneath her, changing into his most stalwart pal. In the event you’re a wrestling fan, you’ll get a kick out of the best way large matches are restaged, notably the ultimate large bout with legendary wrestler “The Son of Santo.” Director Roger Ross Williams makes his narrative debut with this, and it’s an assured, energetic showcase. Operating a lean 100 minutes, the film has power to burn, and Bernal is excellent within the title function. This one is about for a Prime Video debut and must be a crowd-pleaser. In a nod to authenticity, the movie is shot in a combination of English and Spanish. On the similar time, Williams adopts the now fashionable 1:33:1 side ratio, which permits him to seamlessly mix video sequences meant to evoke Cassandro’s television broadcasts with the remainder of the movie.
In the event you’re a wrestling aficionado, Cassandro is certainly price trying out. The solid is terrific, and the movie is plenty of enjoyable. It has laughs, some motion, and a giant coronary heart beneath all of it which may have you working to YouTube to lookup precise movies of the true Cassandro. He gained’t disappoint.
Cassandro is now enjoying in restricted launch and begins streaming on Prime Video September twenty second.
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