Gael García Bernal plays a gay wrestler in ‘Cassandro’
Posted on 09/22/23 at 18:44
- Gael García Bernal plays a gay wrestler.
- Cassandro is one of the most important LGBT figures in Mexico.
- The movie will stream on Amazon Prime.
Gael García Bernal portrays one of Mexico’s most prominent LGBT figures in Cassandro.
The film conveys a message of «self-acceptance and the conquest of machismo,» as director Roger Ross Williams explained in an interview with EFE.
The movie, which also features Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Bad Bunny, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.
It will be available to stream on Prime Video starting September 22, 2023.
Roger Ross Williams fell in love with Cassandro’s story
Williams fell in love with the life of Saúl Armendáriz, better known as the wrestler, Cassandro.
He first got to know the wrestler when he made a documentary about him for The New Yorker.
«It’s an inspiring story of love, self-acceptance, the conquest of machismo, and breaking down barriers,» says the Oscar-winning director of the 2010 documentary short, Music by Prudence.
With Cassandro, Williams makes his debut in narrative filmmaking after a career of more than two decades focused on non-fiction.
An immigrant wrestler
The film begins with Cassandro’s attempts to establish himself in Mexican wrestling with his character ‘El Topo’, a masked wrestler who crosses the border from the U.S. and Mexico to make a living.
His slim, petite physique and conventional attire keep him in the shadow of larger, more masculine colleagues.
One day, he decides to become an Exotic. In lucha libre, Exotics are wrestlers who adopt a campy, drag style in contrast to their macho counterparts.
Cassandro was known for his golden hair, flashy costumes and makeup and cheeky choreography in the ring.
Finding strength in embracing his identity
He’s the ultimate underdog of Mexican wrestling, gradually finding strength in his own identity.
All the while, he’s working in an environment that’s hostile to the LGBTQ+ community.
«In each fight, Cassandro wins over the audience, solely with his charm and ability.»
«Gael, who is a great actor, interprets this very well,» says Williams.
A struggle beyond the ring
The filmmaker uses the wrestling ring a way to portray the macho double-standards of Mexican society — torn between love and hate for a queer character.
«It’s incredible to see how the audience went from cheering, shouting, and insulting him to falling in love with him, just as I hope the moviegoer will,» he explains.
However, the film also shows the wrestler’s more personal side in his relationship with his mother, who was one of his great muses, friends and confidants.
We see the suffering he went through due to his absent father and the painful secret love affair he had with a married man.
Gael García Bernal: Gay wrestler
In addition to Gael García Bernal (Amores Perros, 2000), the cast includes personalities such as Bad Bunny, El Santo Jr., Joaquín Cosío, Roberta Colindrez, and Perla de la Rosa.
This is the second film Benito Martínez Ocasio, better known as Bad Bunny, has appeared in.
His performance recently went viral on social media after a scene was released showing a steamy kiss between his character and the Cassandro.
«That kiss happens at a time when Cassandro is at his lowest point and is trying to find inner strength because he has to face all the rejection around him,» the director reveals.
Williams aims to inspire queer youth
Finally, Williams hopes that the film can inspire more young people in the queer community.
Just as Cassandro did in wrestling, he hopes others will find the courage to embrace their identities.
«He is a well-known person in Mexico and in wrestling, and I wanted to tell his story because of that.»
«I hope this film can inspire millions of people around the world,» Roger Ross Williams told EFE.