Immediately following its première in Cannes, the alarming and exciting Battle in Heaven split the film world into friend and foe. Many pages have been dedicated to the social, moral, existential and cinematographic aspects of Carlos Reygadas’ second film. He tells the story of a simple, big-city crime that – accidentally yet predictably – becomes an unforgivable one: Marcos and his wife kidnap a baby – and the baby then dies. Reygadas is not interested in the hows and whys of this act, for which neither church nor state can offer a truly redeeming punishment. What is important is the way that Marcos, a simple driver working for a rich general, reacts to the tragic outcome of his action. Seeking redemption, Marcos confesses the crime to Ana, the beautiful young daughter of his boss and a prostitute in an upmarket brothel. One crime leads to another, and Marcos’ path leads him on a pilgrimage to the Basilica Guadalupe, Mexico’s pre-eminent place of worship. Starting and ending with both class-conscious and controversial scenes of fellatio, Battle in Heaven is an uninhibited, ambitious must-see film with its rather mysterious title, its grand camera movements (works of art in themselves, shot by Diego Vignatti), references to Rossellini, Tarkovski and Buñuel, and its meticulously-composed mise-en-scène and impressive soundtrack (with music by Pärt and J.S. Bach). (GT)
Film details
Productielanden
Belgium, France, Germany, Mexico
Jaar
2005
Festivaleditie
IFFR 2006
Lengte
98'
Medium/Formaat
35mm
Taal
Spanish
Première status
None
Director
Carlos Reygadas
Producer
Philippe Bober, Carlos Reygadas, Jaime Romandía, Susanne Marian, Mantarraya Producciones, NoDream Cinema, Société Parisienne de Production, Essential Filmproduktion, Tarantula, Coproduction Office
Sound design
Gilles Laurent, Sergio Diáz, Ramón Moreira
Editing
Nicolas Schmerkin, Benjamin Mirguet, Adoración G. Elipe
Cinematography
Diego Martinez Vignatti
Production design
Gerardo Tagle
Screenplay
Carlos Reygadas
Music
J.S. Bach, Arvo Pärt, John Tavener, Marcha Cordobesa