Battle In Heaven (2005 Ok Ru) [exclusive] 〈Limited ›〉

Battle in Heaven found a second life there. However, due to its graphic, non-simulated sex scenes involving non-professional actors (Marcos Hernández was a real-life chauffeur Reygadas met at a gas station), the film was repeatedly flagged, removed, and re-uploaded on Ok.ru. For a generation of Russian and Eastern European cinephiles, their first encounter with Mexican experimental cinema was via a grainy, pirated upload on a social media site meant for sharing vacation photos. Warning: This is not a movie night film. It is not entertainment.

Let’s cut through the noise. Battle in Heaven follows Marcos (Marcos Hernández), an overweight, middle-aged chauffeur for a wealthy Mexican general. Marcos lives in the chaotic, sprawling slums of Mexico City with his wife. Together, they have committed a heinous crime: they kidnapped a baby, who tragically died in their care. battle in heaven (2005 ok ru)

In Reygadas’ film, the battle is happening inside Marcos. He is a monstrous man (a negligent father, an accomplice to murder), yet he seeks an authentic connection to the divine. The film asks: Battle in Heaven found a second life there