In the late 2000s and 2010s, Ok.ru (Odnoklassniki), a Russian social network, became an unofficial archive for art-house and controversial films that were difficult to find on mainstream streaming services. Users would upload full movies to the platform’s video section.
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. battle in heaven (2005 ok ru)
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. In the late 2000s and 2010s, Ok