Cassandro

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2:03

Cassandro

R

Released Sep 15, 2023

1h 47m

Drama

Biography

Comedy

LGBTQ+

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

137 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Saúl Armendáriz, a gay amateur wrestler from El Paso, rises to international stardom after he creates the character Cassandro, the "Liberace of Lucha Libre." In the process, he upends not just the macho wrestling world, but also his own life.

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Critics Consensus

Gael García Bernal steals hearts as the charismatic Cassandro in this feel-good biopic about a wrestler that triumphs in the macho world of Lucha Libre while embracing his true self.

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Rex Reed

Observer

It’s a film that rises above all the obvious cliches because of the colorful naturalism of heartthrob Gael Garcia Bernal’s likable appeal.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 28, 2023

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Odie Henderson

Boston Globe

Williams keeps the pace quick and tight, the wrestling scenes are fun, and the costumes are delightful. With its message of acceptance, “Cassandro” is preaching to the choir, but it’s a good sermon nonetheless.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 6, 2023

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Amy Nicholson

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

Gael García Bernal does a great job capturing the interior life of this character... Even as the points themselves are not especially compelling.

Oct 4, 2023

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Daniel Allen

Loud and Clear Reviews

Despite the training montages and moments from your archetypal sports movie, Cassandro is more than a standard biopic. It is an engaging, often entertaining drama that treats pro wrestling and Mexican lucha libre with the reverence it deserves.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 25, 2024

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Alex Valencia

Q+ Magazine

A film that highlights the importance of representation and the impact one person can have in challenging stereotypes. Cassandro is a story of triumph, a reminder that in the ring of life, being true to oneself can be the greatest victory.

Jul 16, 2024

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Andrew Dignan

In Review Online

Like its title subject, the film deftly counters one’s assumptions, ultimately winning you over with a combination of almost puppy dog enthusiasm and clear-eyed pragmatism.

Jul 12, 2024

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Vilma L

tender and brave. excellent acting by Gael. lovely details about Mexican and Chicano culture, especially the tension between the region's homophobia and machismo and the spaces where non-hereto-normative stars are allowed to shine.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/29/23

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Linda

Amazing story with a great actor.loved it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/20/23

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Hairy

Amazing movie! Incredible acting by Gael! These are the movies that Hollywood needs to make more of!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/16/23

Full Review

Jens B

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.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/29/24

Full Review

dave d

A film short on script with a bunch of color that in the end of the day is ok. It is kinda the old made for cable HBO fill some time flick. This is based on a real person, but I just didn't buy Gael García Bernal as the lead, of a luche libre pro-wrestler. He looked like he was in slow motion so close ups of action sequences were a necessity. It's fine. Nothing I'd want to see again. Final Score: 5/10

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/22/24

Full Review

Tristan C

A very unique and well told story. The cinematography is fantastic. Sadly the slightly clumsy fight choreography loses a star but definitely doesn't take away too much from the incredible movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/02/24

Full Review

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Roger Ross Williams

Director

Gael García Bernal

Saúl Armendáriz

Roberta Colindrez

Sabrina

Perla De La Rosa

Yocasta

Joaquín Cosio

Actor

Raúl Castillo

Gerardo

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Cassandro: Movie Clip - The Kiss

0:26

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Cassandro: Trailer 1

2:03

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Synopsis

Saúl Armendáriz, a gay amateur wrestler from El Paso, rises to international stardom after he creates the character Cassandro, the "Liberace of Lucha Libre." In the process, he upends not just the macho wrestling world, but also his own life.

Director: Roger Ross Williams
Producer: Gerardo Gatica González, Todd Black, David J. Bloomfield, Ted Hope, Julie Goldman
Screenwriter: David Teague, Roger Ross Williams
Distributor: Amazon Studios
Production Co: Motto Pictures, Grand Illusion Films, Amazon Studios, Escape Artists, Panorama Global, Double Hope Films, La Corriente del Golfo
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Language|Drug Use)
Genre: Drama, Biography, Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 15, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 22, 2023
Runtime: 1h 47m

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