Battle in Heaven
Batalla en el cielo
dir. Carlos Reygadas
France / Mexico / Germany / Belgium, 2005 - 98
“I'm not being provocative gratuitously, but rather to unleash strong feelings in the viewer,” says Carlos Reygadas.
In his second film, selected for the feature competition at this year’s Cannes festival, Carlos Reygadas returns to the themes he investigated in his remarkable debut, 'Japón': sex, death and life’s spiritual dimension. The interplay between Marcos, Ana and Marcos’ wife unfolds in the oppressive atmosphere of Mexico’s overcrowded capital. There, the poorest of the poor can’t seem to find a place for themselves in the city. Instead, they seek spiritual salvation in religion. Meanwhile, the daughters of wealthy men prostitute themselves for the fun of it. The director’s daring use of shots of fellatio lacks the expected pornographic tinge, but takes on a metaphysical dimension.
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