If you watch any Batman film, you’ll understand why Roger Ross Williams believes “Cassandro” is a superhero movie. Similar to Bruce Wayne transforming into the Caped Crusader, Saúl Armendáriz becomes Cassandro, a powerful figure in wrestling. Williams’ film, available on Amazon Prime Video, tells the true story of Armendáriz, who created his alter ego in the 1980s. Despite being Williams’ narrative feature debut, he is an experienced filmmaker and the first Black director to win an Academy Award. In an interview with HuffPost, Williams emphasized that “Cassandro” is a work of fiction that uses Armendáriz’s story to highlight the strength of queer individuals both in and out of the wrestling ring.
Williams became attracted to Cassandro’s story after making a short documentary about him. Cassandro’s inspiring journey as a gay man in the macho world of wrestling resonated with Williams. The wrestling scenes in the film were carefully crafted to tell a story and progress the narrative. Each scene is like a mini film, with the first match exploring Cassandro’s initial shame and subsequent transformation through the power of the audience’s taunts. The subsequent matches showcase Cassandro’s evolution and triumph as he embraces his true self.
The film also delves into the assigned roles and how individuals can transcend them. Saúl, as Cassandro, wants to break free from being seen as a “runt” and desires to live authentically as an out and confident gay man. The movie encourages viewers to remove their masks and live their truth, even if it changes their relationships with others. Williams draws from his own experience as a gay man whose relationships transformed when he embraced his queerness.
One standout scene in the film is when Cassandro appears on El Hijo del Santo’s TV program. Williams enjoyed the freedom of fictional storytelling, as it allowed him to create impactful scenes for dramatic effect. He collaborated with J.C. Molina, an openly gay Mexican American production designer, to bring the story to life visually.
Overall, “Cassandro” is a captivating and empowering film that showcases the strength and resilience of queer individuals. It combines elements of superhero narratives with real-life struggles to create a unique and thought-provoking cinematic experience.
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