By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.75
Director: Carlos Reygadas
Starring: Anapola Mushkadiz | Bertha Ruiz | Marcos Hernández
Original language title: Batalla en el Cielo
Country: belgium, france, germany, mexico
Year: 2006
Running time: 98
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387055/
Chris says: “Coincidentally, I saw another Mexican film this week: Carlos Reygadas’ second feature which is also set in Mexico
City but could easily have taken place on another planet. The film, in a nutshell: middle-aged, poor chauffer Marcos (Marcos Hernandez) lusts after Ana (Anapola Mushkadiz) his rich, jail-bait client. A lot. Now, it didn’t even occur to me that scene after scene of Marcos and Ana engaging in graphic oral sex might all be a figment of the former’s imagination until my boyfriend pointed it out to me. And knowing that helps me appreciate the film a little more. BATTLE is an encouraging advance on the director’s JAPON in that the camera movements are even more stunning, the soundtrack immensely stirring, and the plot is relatively easy to follow in comparison. He also has intelligent things to say about the class struggle in his country. Unfortunately, it doesn’t add up to as great of a film as I was hoping for. Unlike the charming DUCK SEASON, it’s astonishingly pretentious, But I do admire Reygadas’ decision to show two particularly unattractive people having sex without turning it into a joke or draining all the warmth and affection out of it. 3 cats”
Michael says: “I was not a fan of filmmaker Carlos Reygadas previous film, JAPÓN, but decided to give BATTLE IN HEAVEN a try after reading a couple of promising reviews. The film was released to controversy due to its use of real (as opposed to simulated) sex. Perhaps in preparation for John Cameron Mitchell’s SHORTBUS, I thought I’d give it a try. While I enjoyed BATTLE IN HEAVEN more than the indecipherable JAPÓN, I still found it to be a little too vague, a little too pretentious, a
little too unpleasant to work. I tried exploring for the film’s meaning through its title. There are many battles raging throughout the film: a class struggle, youth vs. age, fantasy vs. reality, fame vs. obscurity, male vs. female, as well as a look at corruption in Mexico and the beauty culture that is so prevalent in today’s society. Most important of all, or perhaps in counterpoint to the corruption side of the film, BATTLE IN HEAVEN seems to be a tale of redemption. Lead character Marcos and his wife have kidnapped a baby, only to have it accidentally die. Marcos wants to turn himself in, but his wife pleads for him not to, but rather to wait until they can attend a religious pilgrimage coming through their area soon. Marcos works for a general as a chauffer and he shares an oddly close relationship with the General’s daughter, now a young lady herself. She is a flawless beauty who works as a prostitute and encourages Marcos to turn himself in. The film builds to a sudden violent conclusion which is surely symbolic of something, but I can’t quite put it together in my head. Reygadas provokes the audience with his use of explicit sex,
yet employs non-professional actors to achieve flat, emotionless delivery. I was fascinated by Bertha Ruiz, who plays Marcos’ obese wife, and would have liked to have seen more of their odd, but clearly loving relationship. Visually, BATTLE IN HEAVEN is compelling, yet the story falls flat. Despite moments of brilliance, the overall unpleasantness and flat tone force me to give this film 2 ½ cats.”