Unmasking Lucha Libre Fashion in ‘Cassandro’
nytimes.comHe strides into the ring in a long, sequined cape. His shimmering bodysuit, platinum blond hair, exaggerated eye makeup and the pop of red on the lips easily set him apart from his snarling opponent, who wears his masculinity like armor.
He is Cassandro, the Liberace of Lucha Libre. In a new biopic set in the world of Mexican masked wrestling, Gael García Bernal plays Saúl Armendáriz, a real-life exótico — as drag-inspiredstars of lucha libre are called — who captured the imaginations of audiences as the fabulous Cassandro.
A gay man in a culture that rewards machismo, he defied expectationsby pairing a flamboyant style with hard-hitting body slams.
Directed by the Academy Award winner Roger Ross Williams, the film, which was released this week on Prime Video, follows Cassandro’s transformation from amateur wrestler to ultrafeminine fighter.
