Amateur wrestler Saul Armendariz transforms from a luchador named El Topo into an exotico named Cassandro.
Gael Garcia Bernal plays gay wrestler Cassandro in Roger Ross Williams’ feel-good biographical drama.
The film, set in the early 1980s, tells the story of Saul Armendariz (Gael Garcia Bernal) who crosses over the border from El Paso in Texas to Ciudad Juarez in Mexico to compete in amateur Lucha Libre matches.
At the beginning, he wrestles under the persona El Topo, but he isn’t satisfied and seeks advice from coach Sabrina (Roberta Colindrez) about taking his wrestling to another level.
He changes his professional identity and becomes an exotico – a gimmicky feminine wrestler dressed in drag – named Cassandro and rises to stardom.
This biographical drama rightly shines a light on a trailblazer who changed the perception of exoticos and helped members of the LGBTQ+ community become accepted in the macho world of Lucha Libre.
Exoticos, typically played by straight men, were often ridiculed and heckled and always had to lose their matches to masculine luchadors. Cassandro changed the game by winning over the crowd with OTT, flamboyant and charismatic performances that fearlessly flaunted his sexuality.
You can see why audiences warmed to him – his matches are electric and way more entertaining than your typical bout. He uses awesome music, wears fantastically camp costumes and loud make-up.
The adoration from the crowd gives Saul more confidence in himself outside of the ring.
While he is out and very much supported by his mother Yocasta (Perla De La Rosa), he’s estranged from his father and fooling around with a married man. Cassandro helps Saul discover who is meant to be.
The wrestling scenes are easily the best sections of the film. Cassandro is so much fun to watch and you can’t take your eyes off him and you will be internally cheering him on along with the crowd.
But there is a lot more to the movie – we spend plenty of time with Saul outside of the ring and his relationship with his mother is particularly wonderful to watch.
In fact, there could have been more scenes depicting Saul in the real world, although that part of the narrative is brought to a really satisfying conclusion.
Bernal gives one of his best ever performances in this heartwarming, inspiring and feel-good biopic.
On Prime Video from Friday 22nd September.
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