Hecho En Mexico is less a documentary and more a series of artistic musings about how to define contemporary Mexico. Hecho En Mexico feels like it was either made for a Mexican audience or for people very familiar with Mexican culture and notable figures because there is no introduction of the people before they speak or sing. Hecho En Mexico just hurtles forward on a rhythmic journey exploring Mexican identity, culture, religion, sex, ancient versus modern culture, and the effect of immigration and commercialization on that culture.
If you do not like reading subtitles, don’t bother to watch it. Even as someone who likes movies with subtitles, because Hecho En Mexico is so high-paced and more like an intellectual musical, I had to rewind and rewatch several scenes to catch all the words. Spanish speaking viewers definitely have the advantage when watching Hecho En Mexico. It took me two attempts before I finished watching Hecho En Mexico. Hecho En Mexico is appropriately unconcerned about spoon-feeding the English speaking audience.
I felt rewarded for my efforts. Hecho En Mexico made me realize how much a xylophone could rock a song. I loved that this Mexican identity exploration eschewed the American gaze and our preoccupation with penetration, but looked at us as the other and invader of their nation. Hecho En Mexico is a challenging exploration of culture in a land invaded by and by necessity integrating other cultures (Spanish and American) while refusing to reject their native heritage.