The Cassandra Movie is an American film focusing on the biographical drama genre. Today, we shall discuss whether The Cassandra Movie is based on a true story. Roger Ross Williams directed the film. Williams and David Teague co-wrote the screenplay.
The film premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2023. It screened at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2023. Amazon MGM Studios released The Cassandra Movie in a limited release on September 15, 2023.
It started streaming on Amazon Prime Video on September 22, 2023. The fans rated it 6.5/10 on IMDb, 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, 76% on Metacritic, and 53% on Google. Let us discuss whether The Cassandra Movie is based on a true story.
Is The Cassandra Movie Based On A True Story?
Yes, The Cassandra Movie is based on a true story and follows the life of the homosexual wrestler Saúl Armendáriz. Armendáriz was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. He became famous as a cross-dressing luchador in Mexico’s lucha libre wrestling. In the movie Cassandro, actor Gael García Bernal plays him. Cassandro, his wrestling name, made him known worldwide.
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He was born on May 20, 1970, and grew up in both Texas and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. His mother Maria raised him after his parents divorced. Armendáriz experienced physical and sexual abuse as a child. He suffered many injuries during his wrestling career, especially in “lucha extrema.”
He struggled with addiction but overcame it in 2003. Now, he gives motivational talks, trains new wrestlers, and works as a massage therapist and chiropractor. He was a consultant for the movie about his life. Watching the film, he appreciated how it showed his relationship with his mother and his struggles. The movie depicts a difficult relationship with his father, but they reconciled in the end.
The Cassandra Movie Plot
In the late 1980s, homosexual wrestler Saúl Armendáriz lives in El Paso, Texas, with his mother. He often crosses the border to Ciudad Juárez for lucha libre matches. He starts wrestling as “El Topo” until he meets trainer Sabrina. Sabrina inspires him to compete as an exótico and trains him for success in this role.
He creates the identity of “Cassandra” and explores his relationships while gaining fame in lucha libre. Saúl’s journey in Cassandro closely mirrors his real life. At 5’5″, he took on a new wrestling character. He chose the name Cassandra after a Tijuana brothel keeper named Cassandra, whom he admired for helping the poor and homeless.
Straight men portray most éxoticos as queer caricatures, but Cassandro was an exception. Like in the movie, Cassandro faced much homophobia in and out of the ring and had to hide his affair with a married lover for years. However, he found joy in his persona and embodied a message of being true to oneself.
The Cassandra Movie Cast
In The Cassandro Movie, we see Gael García Bernal playing the role of Saúl Armendáriz / Cassandro; Roberta Colindrez playing the role of Sabrina; Perla De La Rosa playing the role of Yocasta; Joaquín Cosío playing the role of Lorenzo; Raúl Castillo playing the role of Gerardo / El Comandante; El Hijo del Santo as himself and Bad Bunny playing the role of Felipe.
We also see Eduardo Cayetano playing the role of Diablo, Joseph Gabriel Rodríguez playing the role of Ruben, Julieta Ortiz playing the role of Candance, Mark Vasconcellos playing the role of Dante, Carmen Ledesma playing the role of Rosie, and Yavor Vesselinov playing the role of Pete.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is The Cassandro Movie Based On A True Story?
Yes, The Cassandro Movie is based on a true story and follows the life of the homosexual wrestler Saúl Armendáriz. Armendáriz was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. He became famous as a cross-dressing luchador in Mexico’s lucha libre wrestling. In the movie Cassandro, actor Gael García Bernal plays him. Cassandro, his wrestling name, made him known worldwide.
2. What is the plot of The Cassandro Movie?
Saúl Armendáriz is a gay amateur wrestler from El Paso, Texas. He becomes famous worldwide by creating the character Cassandro, known as the “Liberace of Lucha Libre.” He challenges the traditional wrestling world and transforms his own life.
3. Where can you watch The Cassandro Movie online?
Amazon MGM Studios released The Cassandro Movie in a limited release on September 15, 2023. You can watch it online on the streaming channel, Amazon Prime Video.
