Battle in Heaven

Summary

After Marcos and his wife kidnap their sister-in-law's baby for ransom, the infant dies. While Marcos' wife seeks repentance at Mexico City's Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Marcos wants to go to the police and confess. Marcos works as chauffeur to a general. He is having an affair with his boss' daughter, who secretly works as a prostitute in a luxury bordello. But even sex with her does not offer Marcos relief from his moral unease and social deprivation...

With the warts-and-all physicality of its overweight (amateur) actor, acts of random violence and explicit sex scenes, Carlos Reygadas' provocative look at masculinity in "Battle in Heaven" caused shock waves in 2005. Complemented by constant references to the omnipotence of strict hierarchies, the film becomes a panoramic look at a country riven by social division.

The pronounced camerawork with its long set-ups, tracking shots and pans of up to 360 degrees, as well as the hyper-realistic visuals that are reminiscent of British photojournalist Martin Parr, come back into their own in the restoration.

Source: 74. Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin (Catalogue)