User Reviews

Fantastic performance by Bernal, beautiful cinematography and score, and good direction save this film from its painfully mediocre script and one-dimensional characters. The pacing feels sluggish at times, but as soon as a wrestling match starts, the energy is back again. Although Bernal is fantastic (as mentioned before), he does look his age in most scenes and is not always believable as a 20 year old in the beginning of the movie. I do recognize the director's freedom in choosing not to tell the whole story of Armendáriz, but this choice leads to a significant problem: I can get why low points in a character's life would get in conflict with the inspirational and empowering character of the film's story. But it's also true that this eliminates any depth of the main character and the chance of the classical hero's journey. CASSANDRO tries something different from the standard biopic but sadly fails. I did think about something else, however: What if Almodóvar had written and directed this life story? Think about it, the idea is more interesting as it seems.

(Mauro Lanari) Sociologisms do not do justice to the biopic: Roger Ross Williams is not a spokesperson for the quéer minority ("It inspired me, but I hope it inspires everyone - not just the LGBTQ+ community") and shoots "Cassandro" as if it were "The Wrestler" (Aronofsky 2008) directed by the first and best Almodóvar, the one from "Law of Desire" ('87), pre-movida, pre-sophisticated comedy, pre-melodrama even if there is a pinch of "All About My Mother" ('99), while the historical drama harks back at certain moments to my favorite by P.T. Anderson, "Boogie Nights" ('97). Further note of merit: "the film was supported by the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program (FFP)". Happy to go back to watch a valid indie work. Unexpected note of demerit: Bernal may be an excellent actor, but he is physically out of place in the role of the "luchador".

Una falta de respeto a la lucha libre mexicana y al gran Cassando, no reflejalo que es y los verdaderos ideales de la lucha libre y su verdadera visión. Lo único valioso es la actuaciónde Gael.

A heartfelt, emotional journey of finding self-acceptance and unleashing oneself through wrestling. Not an expected spectacle where all facets of life resolve itself by the final fight.

É incrível como papéis de pessoas **** caem como uma luva nas mãos do Gabriel Garcia Bernal, e por mais que o filme não se aprofunde como deveria, nos pontos de entrega do nosso protagonista a gente sempre sente a emoção correta. A obra me fez correr atrás do termo "Lucha libre" no google, e o que tava me incomodando era a sensação de que todas as lutas não passavam de uma farsa, de algo completamente fake. E não é que descobri, além do peso cultural que tem no México, que se trata justamente disso? É uma arte basicamente performática, caricata, e simulada. O "simulacro" do Bourdieau sendo televisionado, e criando ídolos imaginários e patrióticos. Um ponto muito positivo no filme é que foge ao clichê do revachismo, uma vez que não se trata aqui de tentar superar um inimigo. Neste ponto, aplausos para o roteiro, que não precisou criar vilões como um empresário magnânimo e explorador ou um adversário quase imbatível, como filmes tal qual "Creed" vão se sustentar. Assim, ao fazer um estudo de personagem, principalmente sua relação com a mãe, com o pai e com o namorado, e ainda sem fechar um arco narrativo de possíveis desfechos, "Cassandro" apresenta sonhos e aspirações comuns, e por um acaso é um astro de "lucha libre". Não enaltece o esporte como que endeusando-o, e muito menos oferece concessões e dramas fáceis. É um retrato humano, e talvez meio frio e arquétipo, diria até meio tom abaixo do esperado para um público LGBT. Senti falta também de mais elementos informativos ou verídicos, mas o fato é que o filme consegue nos prender com sua trama meio novelesca, algumas cenas lindas (a luta dele com o filho do Santos, a cena na piscina com a mãe), nos faz lembrar que estamos diante de um bom cinema, com potencial sim para ser mais, entretanto, muito divertido e eficiente a que se propõe.

Cassandro was an "exotico" character created by a gay amateur wrestler from El Paso. Gael Garcia Bernal plays him in this cursory biopic. As opposed to many such films, this guy apparently had a pretty easy time as a gay man in the world of Mexican lucha libre. Other than a few taunts from the spectators, he basically rises thru the ranks without much effort. As a result, his bright, optimistic attitude is echoed in the style of this movie. Usually, to give any drama heft, there are setbacks to create challenges, but this just bounces along, light and fun. Bernal's continual smile is charming, but it betrays any subtext of suffering, so his performance feels surface. Cassandro is a fascinating character, but this biopic seems to skim the surface of his life.

Incredible bio-pic of the Liberace of "lucha libre" and a person being true to themselves. Kudos to Gael García Bernal performance.

García Bernal luce irreconocible en los zapatos del campeón de la lucha libre que creo una tendencia y, también se convirtió en la voz de una minoría. No está de más verla, haciendo de lado cualquier prejuicio.

Gael García Bernal is marvelous as the iconic gay lucha libre icon Cassandro. Unfortunately, everything else is rather dull in this biopic. Side characters are not fully fleshed out, and the story doesn't fully explore the homophobia in Mexican culture. Either way, wrestling scenes are entertaining, and the soundtrack elevates some emotional moments.

Up until this film, director Roger Ross Williams had only made documentaries and it shows in his lack of imagination to give a more active setting to this chronicle, which could have lent itself to more, but he manages to pull through because the narrative itself is compelling, and Gael García Bernal fully embodies his character, which amplifies the audience's investment. However, the screenplay falls short in capturing the true struggle Cassandro faced in becoming an exótico luchador. When it comes to that regard this biopic goes the safe and easy route to put it more practically. Cassandro loses momentum as it approaches its climax, particularly because it doesn't adequately emphasize the significance of Cassandro's match against El Hijo del Santo, considering the legend that mask means in Lucha Libre, but for the most part it flows as well as its elements and execution allow it to.I liked it, I mean it's an extremely simplified film, but it served its purpose.