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PARK CITY – If somebody have been to inform you an out-and-proud wrestler within the late ‘80s and early ‘90s Lucha libra scene became not only a title holder but a public sensation you might not believe it. A gay wrestler? In “macho” Mexico, no less? Even in the U.S., the first WWE publicly gay wrestler didn’t arrive on the scene till 2012. But “Cassandro,” the topic of the brand new drama that debuted on the 2023 Sundance Film Festival tonight, was that and a lot extra. And in telling his outstanding story, director Roger Ross Williams has drop-kicked the shackles of a traditional biopic filmmaking in an intoxicating vogue.
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Williams, a Doc Short Oscar-winner who was additionally nominated for “Life, Animated,” first met Cassandro, higher generally known as Saúl Armendáriz, in 2016 when taking pictures “The Man Without A Mask,” a documentary brief for The New Yorker on Prime Video. Armendáriz had damaged main boundaries in Lucha libre, however his story was pretty unknown in the remainder of North America. Williams thought that wanted to vary and he determined then and there to make it his first non-documentary characteristic.
The film begins in 1987 and our hero, Armendáriz (Gael Garcia Bernal, improbable), is struggling as a semi-professional wrestler within the native Jurez, Mexico Lucha libre scene. Cast as a rudo (generally known as a “heel” or villain in U.S. wrestling), Armendáriz continues to lose to the promoter’s chosen champion, Giganto. After each match, a upset Armendáriz crosses the border to El Paso the place he lives a a lot totally different life along with his beloved mom Yocasta (Perla De La Rosa, extra please).
Despite being born in Mexico, the pair reside in Texas, surviving financially by doing wealthy individuals’s laundry and washing automobiles. Yocasta loves her son unconditionally hoping he meets a boy who will deal with him higher than what she’s endured. Armendáriz’s estranged father? Not a lot.
Armendáriz desires are firstly Lucha libre. Not solely does it convey him pleasure, however he sees it as a way to present his mom a greater life. But that received’t occur if he continues as a rudo. After asking the profitable feminine wrestler Sabrina (Roberta Colindrez) to coach him, she has an sudden proposition for him. Why not embrace his true id and turn out to be an exotico? And, furthermore, why not turn out to be an exotico that truly wins matches?
Historically, an exotico was a Lucha libre wrestler who wore overtly female make-up and outlandish costumes. Basically, they have been giving Liberace however in spandex. But within the historical past of the game, an exotico had by no means received a match not to mention reached the heights of a well-liked champion. That, after all, was earlier than Cassandro arrived on the scene.
After convincing a neighborhood promoter to let Cassandro tackle Gitantico, Armendáriz and Sabrina try to show the tables within the ring. The crowd turns into transfixed by Cassandro’s charismatic aptitude and improved abilities. They flip their help rooting for him regardless of Gigantico formally successful the match. The promotor sees a star within the making and Cassandro’s profession begins to take off, however at a price.
Before changing into Cassandro, Armendáriz was seemingly simply one other straight fighter in Juarez. But that’s additionally the place he met one other El Paso wrestler, Gerardo (Raul Castillo, nice contemplating the display screen time), with whom he has a secret romantic relationship. Gerardo has a spouse and two youngsters and is obsessive about protecting their conferences on the down low. That turns into inconceivable as soon as Cassandro arrives. Armendáriz’s new id has now eliminated a masks he’s worn in public for years. He’s extra emboldened to be himself than ever earlier than. Gerardo can’t threat that.
As we’ve famous beforehand, there’s nothing that may change a queer eye in terms of capturing intimacy between LGBTQ+ characters on display screen. Both the straight-identifying Garcia Bernal and Castillo have performed homosexual characters earlier than, however the publicly out Williams’ brings a deft and private contact in capturing their difficult relationship. Even with so many homosexual relationships in fashionable media, their moments alone in mattress collectively have a tenderness you hardly ever see..
Often, documentary filmmakers are inclined to lean towards the traditional with their narrative debuts. They aren’t going to rock the boat on their first non-fiction go round. Exhilaratingly, Williams does no such factor. Sure, there are life story beats which might be inconceivable to disregard, however Williams at all times finds a solution to convey an suave contact to the proceedings. For occasion, a typical biopic would flood Cassandra’s wrestling matches with a bombastic rating or a recognizable music monitor. After the suitable strolling into the sector music (with some pitch-perfect cues, thoughts you) Williams trusts Garcia Bernal and the match to inform the story. He is aware of the match is a narrative and that the group will react, cheer or boo and by no means in an unrealistic method. You hear the kicks. You hear the rustle. It’s nearly revolutionary (or no less than it feels prefer it).
“Cassandro” isn’t right here to cowl each second of Armendáriz’s life. And there are storylines, particularly along with his father, that neither Williams or his co-screenwriter, David Teague, can convey to a satisfying conclusion. But as a portrait of a person discovering himself in his career? Of celebrating his true self? It’s extraordinary. [A-]
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