Battle in Heaven

Aroview: Heavyset follow-up to JAPON finds Mexican dir. Reygadas dealing in the spiritual and moral crises of two lost souls: one an underprivileged chauffeur who conspires to kidnap a baby for ransom; the other a disenchanted young woman with a penchant for anonymous sex.

Powerful camera work and a sense of striking, unplanned imagery (particularly, of Mexico’s uglier, unseen side) help carry this through its clumsier moments: namely, the film’s shock value, surrealist nature, and overzealous religious symbolism.

NZ International Film Festival 2006