Battle in Heaven (2005)

A working-class man named Marcos and his wife kidnap a baby for ransom money, but it goes tragically wrong when the infant dies. In another world is Ana, the daughter of the general for ... See full summary »

Director:

Carlos Reygadas

Writer:

Carlos Reygadas

Stars:

Marcos Hernández, Anapola Mushkadiz, Bertha Ruiz

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Marcos Hernández	...	Marcos
Anapola Mushkadiz	...	Ana
Bertha Ruiz	...	Marcos' Wife
David Bornstein	...	Jaime
Rosalinda Ramirez	...	Viky
El Abuelo	...	Chief of Police
Brenda Angulo	...	Madame
El Mago	...	Preacher
Francisco 'El Gato' Martínez	...	Gas Station Attendant
Diego Martínez Vignatti	...	Soccer Player
Alejandro Mayar	...	Police Inspector
Chavo Nava	...	Neurotic Conductor
Estela Tamariz	...	Ines
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michelle Aizpuru	...	Adolescentes que llegan de fiesta
Valeria Alvarez	...	Ninos que juegan

Storyline

A working-class man named Marcos and his wife kidnap a baby for ransom money, but it goes tragically wrong when the infant dies. In another world is Ana, the daughter of the general for whom he drives, who does sexual acts to any man for pleasure. Marcos confesses his guilt to her in his troubled search for relief, and then finds himself on his knees amid the multitude of believers moving slowly toward the Basilica in honor of the Lady of Guadalupe.

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Plot Keywords:

ransom | guilt | baby | title based on the bible | infidelity | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Mexico Belgium France Germany Netherlands

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

20 July 2006 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Battle in Heaven

Filming Locations:

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

€1,601,792 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$25,306 (USA) (17 February 2006)

Gross:

$70,899 (USA) (23 June 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Coproduction Office, No Dream Cinema, Mantarraya Producciones

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 126 min (director's cut) 98 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

For the US theatrical poster hair was digitally added to cover the breasts of Anapola Mushkadiz.

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Goofs

During the scene where Ana and Marcos are making love, as the camera pans out, a crew member's reflection can be seen in the window.

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Connections

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: Cinema Today and the Future (2011)

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Soundtracks

Concierto para Clavicordio en re menor, BWV 1052
Written by Johann Sebastian Bach (as JS Bach)
Akademie für alte musik Berlin
Harmonia Mundi SA

User Reviews

awesome cinematic tour of life in urban hell

Battle in Heaven is an epic adventure in film in the urban world. It thrusts the viewer into many small worlds without fully explaining each world or how they are connected. You must be open and receive this film or you might be frustrated. The camera-work is radical in style yet actually slow and simple. It's just that nobody takes this truly panoramic approach. The use of music is also powerful and moving. Reygadas has really proved himself a force in cinema with this film.

Thematically, the film touches on many views -- one example if the fact that almost everyone looks ugly in this film, yet not repulsive. There is also a sense of raw sexual abandonment despite the lack of eroticism.

As well, the film deals with Mexican nationalism, and its Catholicism, and the army, in ways that will have relevance for Mexicans. There is beauty in this movie and the feeling of life's inherent tragedy. Decadence is present and evil casually introduced as an aside. You will also be awed by the bravery of the actors and moved by the raw and close-to-real sex acts.