BATTLE IN HEAVEN
****1/2 out of *****
Reviewed by Juan Incognito

Screening in the 2006 New Zealand International Film Festival
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Genres
Drama
Romance
Thriller

2005
Written and directed by
Calros Reygadas
Cast
Marcos Hernández .... Marcos
Anapola Mushkadiz .... Ana
Bertha Ruiz .... Marcos' Wife
David Bornstien .... David
Rosalinda Ramirez .... Viky
El Abuelo .... Chief of Police
Brenda Angulo .... Madame
El Mago .... Preacher

What does the hired help do in their own time in a developing state? Turns out nothing too different from the rest of us, watching sport on TV, talking about crap, thinking about sex.  Is it any wonder that people do strange things in pursuit of something new? Does this explain Battle in Heaven? Well, not really, but one has to open a review somehow, and someone beat me to a diatribe against urban sprawl.

Battle in Heaven is a visually beautiful film, despite its relatively generic urban sprawl setting.  Leaving aside the rather bold opening sequence of a girl giving an overweight man a blowjob we are treated to a series of stylised shots that dwell on the actors for prolonged periods.  It does not have the rushed style of most modern films; in fact it is more akin to the long, slow style used in films like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.  But the people are real, in real life environments.  It really works. There is something engrossing about these long shots that really immerses one in the personality of the actors. I’m not so sure that the regular excerpts were necessary, except to centre the film with its sexual theme.

The plot almost seemed immaterial, or at least I do not think that the film would have suffered too much for losing the story.  However, it did have an endearing quality, servant couple kidnap baby of relative, the baby dies, and they do not know what to do.  The daughter of their employer, Ana (who leads a double life as a prostitute) is let in on the secret by the husband. Marcos, the husband/servant then begins a lustful affair with Ana. This relationship becomes the central theme, rather than the death of the baby.  Gradually though the husband loses control of reality, and things spiral out of control, and then murder occurs.  Redemption is sought at the hand of the Virgin Mary, and then the film ends.

Battle in Heaven is, simply put, a beautiful film that should be seen on a big screen where one can fully appreciate the cinematography. It does linger, but it is not a long film, coming in at 98 minutes, this is no Kundun. This was my favourite film of the festival, yet it is so hard to describe properly, words do not adequately convey the visual splendour that it portrays.  Go see this.

This film will screen in Wellington on Saturday August the 5th at 8:30pm at the Soundings Theatre, Te Papa. Refer to the Film Fest homepage for more information.

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