Battle in Heaven

2005 1h 36m ES

😐

5.8

MID

★5.8TMDB · 214

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Set in Mexico City, Carlos Reygadas's sexually explicit drama centers on a man in turmoil over his past actions. Chauffer Marcos feels compelled to reveal a dark secret to his boss's daughter, Ana, a wealthy woman who works as a prostitute just for the thrill of it. Marcos confesses that he and his wife committed a crime that ended in horrible tragedy. Haunted by his past, Marcos searches for redemption.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Marcos Hernández
Marcos
Anapola Mushkadiz
Ana
Bertha Ruiz
Esposa de Marcos
David Bornstein
Jaime
Rosalinda Ramírez
Viky
Estela Martínez Tremari
Inés
Luis Lozada
Predicador
Diego Martínez Vignatti
Vignatti

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Carlos Reygadas
Writers: Carlos Reygadas
Languages: Spanish
Countries: Germany, Belgium, France, Mexico

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $1.6M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 16% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 21 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 4 countries: Germany, Belgium, France, Mexico.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Carlos Reygadas, shot by Diego Martínez Vignatti. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by John Tavener. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Carlos Reygadas shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Marcos Hernández and Anapola Mushkadiz and Bertha Ruiz carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Carlos Reygadas directs. Diego Martínez Vignatti behind the camera. John Tavener scores. Carlos Reygadas cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Germany, Belgium, France, Mexico. Dialogue in Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $1.6M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
2Earned back only 16% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
3Released 21 years ago.
4International production across 4 countries: Germany, Belgium, France, Mexico.
5Directed by Carlos Reygadas, shot by Diego Martínez Vignatti. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by John Tavener. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Carlos Reygadas shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Marcos Hernández and Anapola Mushkadiz and Bertha Ruiz carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt0387055 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 16 themes, including "chauffeur", "mexico city, mexico", "confession", "eroticism".