150 Word Review: 'Cassandro' (2023)
Lucha Liberace
In the brawny, spandex-clad universe of lucha libre, exóticos are flamboyant, effeminate male wrestlers doomed to lose against their macho opponents. Exóticos also get booed by the crowds. It’s like audience participation homophobia.
But the boos only make the exótico Cassandro stronger. More defiant. The other luchadors hide behind colorful masks, but Cassandro doesn't. He's too fabulous for that. Too sparkly. Then he starts winning.
Directed by Roger Ross Williams, Cassandro is a grounded and gritty biopic that embraces the vulnerability and ambition of Saúl Armendáriz, a gay, American-born Mexican rassler.
Williams isn't interested in a typical rising star movie. This isn't a story about the world accepting Armendáriz; it's about Armendáriz accepting himself. Once he does, you'll cheer. As Armendáriz/Cassandro, Gael Gracia Bernal glows. His performance is physically and emotionally acrobatic. Perla de la Rosa breaks hearts as Cassandro's beloved mamá, a complicated woman who loves her son unconditionally.
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Anyway, Saúl Armendáriz is the brother of my Aunt Jeanette’s wife, Julie. They live in El Paso, Texas. I saw both of them a few months ago for my mom’s 80th birthday, and she gave me an El Paso Chihuahuas minor-league baseball hat, which I wear all around Brooklyn. The other day, a dude on a scooter buzzed by me and said, “cool hat.” My tia rules.
I have never met Saúl. I don’t get to El Paso often enough, but I should because I have cousins there and other family. Also: enchiladas. I want to meet him, and maybe I will one day.