Battle in Heaven (2005)

3 Stars (out of 4)

Drive, She Said

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Carlos Reygadas' second feature film -- his follow up to Japón -- is slightly more coherent, but no less challenging. A lumpy chauffeur, Marcos (Marcos Hernández) has worked for a wealthy family for years and now drives around the sexy, troublesome teenager, Ana (Anapola Mushkadiz). Marcos and his wife (Bertha Ruiz) find big trouble when they kidnap a baby and the baby dies. Marcos finds himself confiding in Ana, and receiving sexual favors in return. All the while, religious pilgrims move through the city, raising the flag, giving an urgent, centered feel to the proceedings. The film famously opens on a long, (presumably real) shot of Ana performing felatio on Marcos. Reygadas' direction seems to wander from time to time, as when Marcos walks around in the hills for long minutes without a purpose, but he always brings it back home. He's a perplexing, but voraciously talented filmmaker to watch.

DVD Details: Tartan Video's 2006 DVD, released in conjunction with Jap�n, comes with interviews, a trailer, and a clip from Japón.