Watch An Impossible Project

An Impossible Project is a documentary film that revolves around the story of a revolutionary inventor named Edwin Land who created a groundbreaking camera back in the '40s, which took instant photographs. The movie follows a group of enthusiasts who are determined to revive the inimitable Polaroid camera and its instant film, which were discontinued in 2008, by reactivating the long-forgotten Polaroid factory in the Netherlands.

The movie starts by introducing us to the founder and chairman of Baroda Ventures, a venture capital firm that has invested in several tech startups, David Bohnett. He explains how he fell in love with the Polaroid camera and was disheartened by its discontinuation. To bring it back to life, Bohnett teamed up with his friend Scott Boms, a designer, and a photographer, to embark on a daunting task to reinstate the Polaroid film production by attempting to revive the factory in Enschede, Netherlands.

Boms introduces the audience to the technical details of the camera and the film, as well as the destructive effect of time on the film production process. To kickstart the revitalization of the factory, the team has to recruit experts who had previously worked at Polaroid to help them restore the machines and train the new technicians who would be working there. One of the members they enlist is a cheerful, middle-aged former machine manager named André Bosman, who had been working at Polaroid for forty years. His personal touch and expertise prove crucial for the team in the later stages of the project.

As the group takes over the factory, they are faced with numerous challenges - finding the right machinery, balancing the chemistry of the film that had changed over the years, and perfecting the production process. Several test batches were produced, and not everything turned out well, and there are many setbacks-- for example, not being able to get the color of the film right, and overheating machinery. But through patience and perseverance, the team manages to overcome the struggles and eventually produces a batch of instant film that worked.

However, the hardships do not end there. The team needs to convince potential buyers to invest in their product, and corporate snags cause long delays. During this time, several members of the team face personal losses, but they remain resolute about finishing the project. We meet Chris Bonanos, a journalist who writes a book about the history of instant photography and documents Polaroid's heartbreaking story in his book. He is excited about the team's project and becomes an advocate of the cause.

One of the highlights of the movie is when the team finally showcases their product at the Photokina trade fair in Germany, alongside other industry giants. The reception was astonishing - the team had managed to revive the original Polaroid film in all its glory, and visitors appreciated the novelty and convenience of the product.

Overall, An Impossible Project takes us on a journey that is full of ups and downs, setbacks and breakthroughs, and personal convictions that kept a group of enthusiasts going. The movie showcases the magic behind instant photography, the love for an outdated, beloved piece of technology, and how a project originally thought impossible, eventually saw the light of day. It's an inspirational story of perseverance, teamwork, and the power of the human spirit to revive something that time and technology had deemed obsolete.

In conclusion, An Impossible Project is a documentary film that sheds light on the passion for instant photography and how it can inspire, even amidst challenges. It's a must-see for photography enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys stories of overcoming adversity. The engaging plot, relatable interviews, and the sheer audacity of the team make this movie a unique, fascinating, and heartwarming experience.

An Impossible Project is a 2021 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0.