An Amazon Prime original from last year starring Gael Garcia Bernal about the real-life luchador, Saul Armendariz aka Cassandro. Frustrated where he's at now in the wrestling game, openly gay Bernal formulates a plan to become an exotico (a wrestler in drag as it were) to up his game w/hopes to changing the tune of the establishment's rules of having exoticos always being the heavy in bouts even utilizing a known trainer, Roberta Colindrez, to hone his skills. At first reluctant to break tradition, a promoter seeing the turning of the tide from the audience decides to take the plunge & let Cassandro win which sends him on his way. On the home front all Bernal wants is to provide a home for his mother, Perla De La Rosa, & have his down low relationship w/his lover, Raul Castillo, to be out in the open even though he's married & has children. Coming to a crossroads when Bernal has to face off against El Hijo de Santo (who plays himself humorously complete w/mask) in his biggest match, we wonder if the vaulted underdog will do the right thing by the legend or let his headwind of victories go to his head? Bernal owns the screen here w/his winning performance of a figure who could've gone the tragic route but manages to overcome his status to do things his way w/more than a modicum of dignity w/a well supported cast, which includes Joaquin Cosio (he played baddies in Quantum of Solace & the James Gunn directed Suicide Squad) playing a promoter w/singer Bad Bunny himself playing his right hand man, lending a solid support to the proceedings.
