There to take fans into the captivating world of Lucha Libre, is Gael Garcia Bernal.In this exclusive interview, ETimes delves into the director’s perspective, exploring his motivations behind casting Bernal, and his vision for bringing authenticity and depth to this extraordinary tale which also hasBad Bunny joining in for the glitz and Del Santos stepping up to play his legendary father Santo. Join us as we uncover the behind-the-scenes insights of ‘Cassandro’ and the impact it promises to have on both wrestling enthusiasts and those seeking inspiration beyond the ring.
Having had the opportunity to watch the film and considering the overwhelmingly positive buzz it’s generating on social media with rave reviews pouring in, do you find that this reception provides a sense of validation regarding the direction you envisioned for this story?
You know, I wanted to tell an uplifting story about someone from the LGBT+ community. I wanted it to be a celebration of Cassandro and his life and not a depressing tale. I think, I have achieved that and hopefully, people will leave the movie inspired.
While you’ve touched on this previously, what was it specifically that captivated your attention and compelled you to delve into the extraordinary and inspirational narrative of a wrestler hailing from a small town?
Umm, well, when I met Cassandro while making a short documentary, I just was completely blown away by his positive energy. You know, of course, his story, but just succeeding in this macho world on his own terms, which was so amazing for me. I was just moved to tears when I saw him fight for the first time and everyone was singing, ‘I Will Survive’ the Gloria Gaynor kind of gay anthem. It’s all these macho guys singing it and hugging him and I was like, ‘What is going on? This is incredible. I have to tell this story.’ I decided right then and there that I was going to do it.
There is a lot about his life that you couldn’t possibly fit into a film, but how did you go about navigating the balance between his professional life as a wrestler and his personal life?
Well, it was really important to capture that special relationship between him and his mother. His mother was a very special person to him in his life. And I really wanted to capture this emotion. So to contrast the big spectacle of the fights, this emotional sort of part of his life and really have that balance back and forth.
Could you elaborate on the reasoning behind your choice to cast Gael Garcia Bernal in the film, especially considering his recent debut as a superhero in Marvel‘s “Werewolf By Night”? When in the creative process did you determine that he was the ideal choice to portray Cassandro?
It was really because I’ve admired his acting ever since ‘Y Tu Mama Tambien’. He played the role of a transgender person in ‘Bad Education’, Pedro Aldemovar’s movie, so I knew that he could do it. And it was also important to have a Mexican actor who really cared a lot about authenticity, who was going to do the work because it was really brutal. He learned to wrestle and he did his own stunts and that was something not a lot of actors would do. Gael really challenged himself and I knew he would because he’s a great actor.
Would you say this role may get him an Oscar nod?
I don’t know. I hope he’s recognised for his work. We never know with these things, but all I can do is make the movie, get a great performance and hope for the best.
Can you provide some insights into the casting process involving Bad Bunny and El Hijo Del Santo? What factors and considerations led to their selection for these roles in the film?
Well, Bad Bunny is a wrestling fan, a Lucha Libre fan, and Bad Bunny, the biggest star in the world, really contacted us and said he wanted to be in the film. And so we cast him as Felipe and had done auditions and had already kind of figured out who we were casting for that part. And then when you get the call from Bad Bunny, you don’t say no.
And the same with Santo. Santo, to my surprise, the real son of Santo said, ‘I want to play myself’, which is amazing because who’s better at playing, being Santo than Santos?
As this film delves into the world of sports and carries cultural significance, particularly in Cassandro’s trailblazing journey for the LGBTQ community in professional wrestling, how do you envision his story inspiring and empowering not only those within the wrestling world but also individuals beyond it?
I think that Cassandra’s story is so special because he overcame a world of machismo and he did it on his own terms. And he did it as a proud gay man, which he’s always been. And I think that is inspiring to everyone. Be your authentic self is the message of the movie. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from. It should inspire you to learn to love yourself and be who you are, basically.
The film that is set for its Prime Video debut this Friday, follows Saúl Armendáriz (Gael García Bernal) who starts competing in the macho world of Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling where he’s always cast as the runt. After he meets Sabrina (Roberta Colindrez), Saúl gains not only a professional trainer but also a friend who helps him create a new character in the ring. Together they debut ‘Cassandro,’ a radical subversion of Lucha Libre’s stereotypical role known as the Exótico. Flamboyant and powerful, Cassandro turns Lucha on its head. But Cassandro also upends Saúl’s own life, throwing into tumult his relationships with his mother Yocasta, his secret lover Gerardo, and his absent father Eduardo.
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