A Technicolor postcard of Mexico City that hits different

Is this for you?

If you like old-school travel docs or just want something to look at for twenty minutes while you fold laundry, this is perfect. If you are looking for a plot or a protagonist, you are gonna be bored out of your mind. Skip it if you need dialogue to stay awake. 🇲🇽

I wasn’t expecting much, but man, that Technicolor really does a lot of heavy lifting here. The reds and yellows in the city squares just pop off the screen in a way that feels almost fake, but in a good way.

The Mexico City Police Orchestra? They’re the real stars here. It’s a strange choice to have the cops providing the soundtrack, but it works. It gives the whole thing this oddly official yet festive vibe that you don't see anymore.

Small things I noticed

• The way the light hits the architecture makes the buildings look like they were painted an hour before filming.
• There is one shot of a street vendor that lingers way too long, like the cameraman was waiting for them to do something interesting, but they just kept staring back.
• The editing feels a bit jumpy, like someone took a pair of scissors to the film stock at random intervals.

It’s weird how much more personality this has than some modern stuff. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Racing Luck, even if they aren't trying to do the same thing at all. It’s just that feeling of a camera being dropped into a place that doesn't care it’s being filmed.

I found myself wondering if anyone in the background of these shots ever knew they were being immortalized. They just walk by, looking annoyed or confused, completely unaware they’re in a documentary.

It’s not perfect. The pacing is all over the place. Sometimes you’re looking at a statue for thirty seconds, and then suddenly you’re in a marketplace. It’s jarring, but I kind of like it. It feels honest, like someone just wandered around with a camera and caught whatever they could.

Definitely worth a look if you want to see a world that doesn't exist anymore. Just don't go in expecting a deep dive. It’s just pretty pictures and brass music, and sometimes, that’s all you need on a Tuesday afternoon. 🎺