Marcos (Marcos Hernández) has been the chauffeur of the army general's daughter, Ana, from her childhood. Despite her wealth, Ana has become a part-time prostitute, working in a brothel called "The Boutique". Marco and his wife Berta (Berta Ruiz), a corpulent, almost male-looking woman, have kidnapped a baby for ransom. When the baby, who has accidentally died in the process, turns out to be their friend's son, Marco ends up confessing everything to Ana in search of redemption.

Carlos Reygadas' second feature is beautifully narrated. Most of the main scenes are quite subtle. The context is hidden until the camera pulls back or pans, even 360 degrees, to resolve and offer us the information the audience wants. This is complemented by a remarkable use of sound, which works perfectly in one of the scenes where all Marcos and his wife are seen in a close-up, having a brief and confusing dialogue. We hear a disturbing alarm going louder and louder until Reygadas lets us know they are selling clocks and cakes in the metro of Mexico City.

Carlos Reygadas has successfully used non-actors to perform the characters, and for this reason, he has been criticised for the explicit content of the sex scenes. Aside from the pornographic nature of them, the lovemaking scene between Marcos and Berta makes you aware of how we are bombarded with stereotypes of beauty and perfection. When we get to see overweight, but still ordinary people having sex in a non-comical context, it turns out to be stiff and disturbing, which is emphasized with the bodies filmed very close, showing the most detached and un-erotic aspect of the act.

While his wife faces their guiltiness through religion, convinced that joining a pilgrimage will save them, Marcos is consumed by his inner conflict and seems to have no choices. Both religious and political symbols surround characters, and a more detailed social context is missing in places. That may, however, be one of the director's attempts to prevent the audience from becoming simple passive spectators.

Club Cert (see IFCO website for details)
Battle in Heaven is released on 28th October 2005.
Battle in Heaven – Official website