Cassandro (film)
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- Roger Ross Williams
- David Teague
- Gerardo Gatica
- Todd Black
- David Bloomfield
- Ted Hope
- Julie Goldman
- Gael García Bernal
- Roberta Colindrez
- Perla De La Rosa
- Joaquín Cosío
- Raúl Castillo
- El Hijo del Santo
- Bad Bunny
| Cassandro | |
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 Release poster | |
| Directed by | Roger Ross Williams |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Matias Penachino |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Marcelo Zarvos |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Amazon MGM Studios[1] |
Release dates |
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Running time | 107 minutes[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Languages |
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Cassandro is a 2023 American biographical drama film directed by Roger Ross Williams from a screenplay co-written by Williams and David Teague. It stars Gael García Bernal, Roberta Colindrez, Perla De La Rosa, Joaquín Cosío, Raúl Castillo, El Hijo del Santo and Bad Bunny. It had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2023, and was released by Amazon MGM Studios in a limited release on September 15, 2023, prior to streaming via Prime Video on September 22, 2023.
In the late 1980s, gay wrestler Saúl Armendáriz lives in El Paso, Texas with his mother, regularly crossing the border to Ciudad Juárez to participate in professional wrestling matches. He begins wrestling as 'El Topo' until he meets a new trainer, Sabrina, who inspires him to compete as an exótico and trains him to be a winner within this role. He develops the identity of 'Cassandro' and begins to confront elements of his identity and explore his personal relationships whilst gaining a reputation for himself within lucha libre.[3][4]
Cast
- Gael García Bernal as Saúl Armendáriz / Cassandro
- Roberta Colindrez as Sabrina
- Perla De La Rosa as Yocasta
- Joaquín Cosío as Lorenzo
- Raúl Castillo as Gerardo / El Comandante
- El Hijo del Santo as himself
- Bad Bunny as Felipe
Production
In July 2020, Gael García Bernal joined the cast of the film, with Roger Ross Williams set to direct from a screenplay he wrote alongside David Teague, with Amazon Studios in negotiations to distribute.[5] They wrote the screenplay over the course of several years.[6] Cassandro is Williams' first narrative film.[4] He previously told Cassandro's story in his 2016 documentary short The Man Without a Mask.[7] In June 2021, Roberta Colindrez and Bad Bunny joined the cast of the film, with Amazon Studios officially set to distribute. The studio would later switch it to a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film upon release following the formation of Amazon MGM Studios Distribution.[8][9]
Music
The music score is by Marcelo Zarvos.[7] The film features songs from the disco era such as "Call Me" by Blondie and "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" by Baccara.[3]
Release
The film had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2023.[10] It also screened at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2023.[11][12] It was released by Amazon MGM Studios in a limited release on September 15, 2023, before streaming via Prime Video on September 22, 2023.[13][14]
