When Saúl Armendáriz (Gael García Bernal), a gay amateur wrestler from El Paso, starts competing in the macho world of Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling in the late 80s, he’s always cast as the underdog. After he meets Sabrina (Roberta Colindrez), Saúl gains not only a professional trainer but also a friend who can help him create a new character in the ring. Together they introduce ‘Cassandro’, an openly gay Exótico wrestler and an improbable hero that empowers Saúl to change how he sees himself and provides him with a new purpose in life. Flamboyant and powerful, Cassandro is an overnight sensation, but the character also disrupts Saúl’s private life, throwing into tumult his relationship with his mother Yocasta (Perla De La Rosa), his secret lover Gerardo, and his absent father Eduardo.

There will Open Captioned screenings at 16.10 on Monday 18th and 18.20 on Wednesday 20th. Audio Description is available across all screenings; enquire at IFI Box Office.

Notes by David O’Mahony