Battle in Heaven (2005)

Marcos lusts after his boss's promiscuous daughter, but after botching an extortion scheme, he becomes wracked with guilt.

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:

sex scene | unsimulated blow job | large breasts | erect penis | explicit fellatio | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Mexico France Belgium Germany

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

26 October 2005 (France)

Also Known As:

Battle in Heaven

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

EUR1,601,792 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$20,351, 19 February 2006

Gross USA:

$70,899

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$258,227

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

Writer/director Carlos Reygadas shot crowded street scenes in the middle of real crowds. Cameraman Diego Martínez Vignatti sat in a wheelchair and they just pushed him through everyone. Luckily, no one who passed by looked into the camera lens.

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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

Referenced in Rewind This! (2013)

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Soundtracks

The Protecting Veil
Written by John Tavener
Naxos Rights International
Chester Music Limited
Premiére Music Group

User Reviews

The Burden laid upon a Latin American Married Man's Psyche because of his actions...

At first I was engrossed by the first minutes of the film. But having analysed the narrative structure and I came to the conclusion that in fact the beginning of the film is the vital part of the film which makes up the middle and the end of the film. There is a psychoanalytical perspective to take into consideration. One has to take into consideration the Latin American culture and the role of the man, to understand the pressures that revolve around the main character's psyche. The burden of his actions, both in having kidnapped a child and the consequences of his infidelity. This film at first seemed boring and slow, but once reflected upon can be added a few extra points. Aesthetics and psychological analysis within the narrative are strong points to look into...but didn't love it...But please bare in mind this is not a Porn film as supposedly wished in the previous critique.