The latest film starring Gael García Bernal, “Cassandro,” received good reviews after its premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
Directed by Roger Ross Williams, the biopic conclusively summarizes the fascinating life and professional career of Saúl Armendáriz’s famous Mexican-American exotic wrestler, who went beyond his profession to become an activist and spokesman against homophobia.
Who is Cassandro the fighter?
Cassandro is a wrestling character created by wrestler Saúl Armendáriz. Born in El Paso to Mexican parents, the fighter entered professional wrestling in 1988 and was trained at a young age by wrestler Rey Misterio, which led to him establishing himself in professional wrestling companies in Mexico and the United States.
After being considered rude, Saúl Armendáriz decided to change his name to “Wild Rose,” a so-called “exotic” character (male wrestlers dressed as drag queens). However, he changed his fighting name, adopting the official title “Cassandro” or “Cassandro The Exotic”.
Over time, “Cassandro,” the character who catapulted him to stardom, gained the respect and admiration of the guild. In 1992, he became the first exotic wrestler to win a wrestling championship: the Universal Wrestling Association World Lightweight Championship.
What happened to Saúl Armendáriz, “Casandro”?
Saúl Armendáriz’s life as Cassandro was not immune to discrimination or problems related to mental health and addiction.
In the wrestling environment, he was attacked by his colleagues, which led to him developing an addiction to drugs and alcohol. In 1991, the fight he was scheduled to have with El Hijo del Santo in Mexico City was postponed due to a suicide attempt due to the pressure he was feeling at that point in his career. Armendáriz claims it was self-sabotage.
Where can you see “Cassandro”?
The film, starring Gael García Bernal, was released on September 20, 2023 in the Prime Video catalog in Mexico; It will be available in the rest of the world from September 22nd. It will also be showing in select cinemas across the country from September 15th.