Battle in Heaven

Halfway through the fest and it's debatable whether I will see a more unusual or interesting film than this Mexican effort. I didn't love it, I wouldn't rush out to recommend it to any of you and at times decidedly off kilter but man did it keep my attention for the entire 98 minute running time.

If you've done any reading of the program book, either on-line or hard copy, you'll know that this is the film that begins and ends with a blow job. Not just any blow job. The young woman performing said fellatio is quite stunning. The lucky recipient on the other hand is a middle-aged everyman with a much more than slightly tumescent belly, with breasts to rival those of Anna Nicole Smith. Not a pretty picture.

The story progresses slowly from this extended opening shot to reveal that our man Marcos is a chauffeur for the aformentioned Ana the daughter of a rich Mexican general. This immediately raises the question of why the apparent role reversal in the opening scene. Rich, young, beautiful woman subservient to the rather unappealing hired help. I'm not sure this is ever answered to our satisfaction or that it needs to be as we're all looking for something to hold on to and sometimes those that are closest and know us best, Marcos having practically raised Ana since she was a baby qualifies here, are those to whom our bonds are tightest.

As the story unveils we come to see that Marcos is someone merely putting in his time. Life holds very little hope of emotional payoff for him. His best years are already behind him and even sex, whether with his similarly large girthed wife or the buxom Ana, seems to hold little in the way of pleasure. Much of the first hour of the movie is scored with a myriad of everyday sounds noting the relentless passage of time. As this inexorable forward movement takes place many everyday occurrences are shown in an entirely unexpected and stark new light.

That this movie takes the commonplace and presents it in a unique perspective is its major strength. Its many beautiful while brutal images of Mexico City also imbue it with much of its power. I'm fairly certain there is much in this movie that went over my head where the politics of Mexico are concerned. Divisions along sexual, religious and class lines play a huge part here and despite their proximity our southern neighbor plus one is one that I am shamefully unequipped to discuss with any semblance of knowledge.

"Y tu Mama Tambien" may have titillated you, I would say let this film take you deeper into the complex world that is modern day Mexico.