After reading a lot about this documentary, I finally got to see it. Here's my take on it.
How you are going to feel about this film is going to depend on your own expectations. I got a lot out of it. I like artful movies that make you think and movies with meaningful cinematography in general.
The film is basically a poetic reflection on analog images, the human condition and how it relates to the modern world. Told via an array of characters related to preserving the Polaroid image, the story has multiple angles represented by those characters. There's the scientific point of view, the art centric view and the way we view it through history. What I found interesting is that each character comes with it's own idiosyncrasies. The scientist relies on God and poetry to help him make sense of his creation, the artist deals with her own imperfections by finding meaning in the imperfect esthetic of the Polaroid image and the history obsessed writer finds unexpected connections in the present. It's all linked through the reoccurring theme of Wabi-Sabi - a Japanese saying that states that things are only truly beautiful when imperfect. To further this point there is an actual girl from Japan in the film.
I would say what the film ultimately tries to convey is the thoughts behind the invention of the Polaroid image by examining the intentions and vision of its inventor Dr. Land and side-stepping the pop culture phenomenon what we think a Polaroid-image is. He wanted to connect humankind. The film shows us how his vision still endures and how the Polaroid image itself wasn't the point. It was a means to a greater goal. This is perfectly embodied by the Japanese girl who finds new meaning in the digital snapshots she takes, while printing (remixing) them analog. 'There are no limits on our imagination and what we can dream up in the future. It makes us human." the scientist says.
The film is about Polaroid in its most truthful essence, contextualizes it for the present day and into the future. The film is told both through narrative story and via its cinematography. There are no interviews and the narration is minimal. Makes sense to me as the documentary is about images. So is it a good movie? Yes, greatly so! While certainly it may not be for everybody, as it does require some patience and willingness from its audience. I found it very stimulating. The thought-process and planning behind it has to have been insane. That said the story itself is pretty straightforward, easy to follow and there is humor here and there to lighten the mood. Just don't expect it to be a reportage affair about all things 'fun' and 'retro cool' as Polaroid is sometimes viewed. Is it a perfect documentary? Maybe not, but then again only things that are imperfect are truly beautiful.
