User Reviews

Really liked this movie a lot. As a photography student myself it was really inspiring to see such a philosophical (dare I say spiritual) take on photography. Made me think and revalue the essence of my (analog) work. Capturing the moment and thinking about time a lot. This movie is quite a trip with strong cinematography and visuals, which I found refreshing. I'ts not a typical documentary by a long shot and I mean that in the best way.

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.

Wasn't sure what to expect from this one. It's light on information but loaded with thought-provoking dialog and imagery. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. If Terence Malick would have made a film about Polaroid, I'm sure it would look a bit like this one. The pacing takes getting used to, the story and characters are fascinating as they slowly pull you in to their analog world. A real stand out was a Japanese girl that pops up now and again reminding us of our idiosyncratic digital world. A bit heavy on the esoteric side but certainly a remarkable and mesmerizing experience.

I managed to catch a screening at the documentary festival in Amsterdam. I was intrigued by the trailer, which I found heavy-handed but wildly intriguing. I was interested in learning more about Polaroid. I did, but got more then expected. Tbh I was blown away by it. What was brought to the screen was beyond anything I was expecting. Space Odyssey in a Herzog - Malick kind of way, if that makes any sense. A visually striking retro ride for sure. There is no plot outline written yet. It's hard to describe, without spoiling anything I would say the movie leans towards being a visual poem. The characters have surreal connections to Polaroid film. The story is layered with fascinating quotes, a reoccurring theme of Christmas, a search for a chemical formula, an artist in a pink bathrobe and her funny chickens. I found it hard to wrap my head around all the details. There's one part of the movie involving the inventor of Polaroid, which totally blew my mind. I enjoyed it immensely and made me want to dig up that old Polaroid camera.

This documentary delves into the enduring appeal of Polaroid photography in the digital age. While some may dismiss it as a nostalgic relic, the film argues that the Polaroid camera and its instant prints still hold a special place in the hearts of many.

Indeed, the documentary recognizes that in today's world of lightning-fast digital photography, the Polaroid's appeal lies not in its technical capabilities, but in its ability to capture and preserve a moment in time. As one interviewee notes, "The digital world is all about speed and efficiency, but there's something beautiful about slowing down and being in the moment."

By exploring the emotional attachment that many individuals feel towards Polaroid photography, the film offers a thought-provoking reflection on the power of sentimentality. Through interviews with artists, photographers, and Polaroid enthusiasts, the documentary reveals how this seemingly outdated technology continues to inspire and move people.

While some may find it difficult to connect with the sentimental value of Polaroid photography, the documentary offers a compelling case for its enduring relevance. As one interviewee eloquently states, "Polaroid is not just a camera, it's a way of seeing the world."

The worst documentary about one of the most amazing products of our time.

Waited two whole years for this movie to be available... yesterday finally sat down and saw it and I'll be honest, hugely disappointing!

I found myself skipping the parts with no dialogue because they were absolutely unnecessary and made the whole thing completely boring. I was hoping for a more journalistic approach to the whole story and what went on after Polaroid discontinued the production. It didn't give me any new information (as someone who is familiar with the whole Polaroid story and followed it closely and uses the product) and even worse, it didn't even give any information that I already knew either! Which means it's not useful for anyone.

It's a completely missed opportunity. This documentary could've been something amazing, but instead, it turned out to be a useless montage of colorful pictures with no information whatsoever. I really didn't understand the whole point of this.

The trailer that came out back in 2017 promised a lot, but none of those have been delivered in the actual movie. I was really hoping for something serious and a timeless documentary that we could watch a couple of years from now even and say "wow! So that was the story of getting Polaroid film back" but no... nothing. You forget the documentary an hour after you see it because it doesn't give you anything. No information, no drama, no struggle, nothing. It doesn't talk about any of them! Which is really questionable because there was a lot of struggle and drama getting the Polaroid film back...! That is why I said it could have been something great...

With a different approach and maybe with people who actually know what a documentary is, it could have been something memorable and respectful.

Pure genius. A psychedelic cinema masterwork. On the surface there is polaroid, future and past revelations meshed into an arty documentary which at times feels like an 70's sci-fi movie. The director certainly is not shy in showing his visual influences; Koyaaniquatsi, A Space Odyssey and other 70's cinema nuggets are on display loud and proud. But if you look closer there is a deeper message about the way we interact with each other through images. Who would have thought a simple polaroid picture would be at the technological and philosophical center of our current ever-connected way of living. The movie is presented as a trip but that doesn't mean it's all spectacle. There's a kooky artist in the desert who is like the Oracle in the Matrix, a scientist who is struggling with the ingredients of polaroid-material, and a writer about polaroids who tries to find back his mojo. Especially his quirky kid is the cutest thing ever. I would say the inventor of Polaroid has the biggest story-arc, even though he has limited screen time. The stories presented are engaging but weird in a cool way. There are even some touching and truly funny moments. I won't spoil them. It's light-years ahead of that Year Zero documentary of a couple of years ago; a straight up no frills documentary about the Impossible team starting up the old Polaroid factory. The Impossible team is also featured here but in a different capacity and at a different time. I would say this movie is just a different kind of animal. Closer to something Werner Herzog might have dreamt up in his during his early career. Klaus Kinski would have been right at home here. (Another German cult actor has a surprising cameo) The movie does have some flaws but nothing major. At certain points the slow pace dragged a bit and there was a certain brief part of the movie that didn't interest me so much. Nothing distracting. There is a lot to like and it instantly (pun intended) has become one my fav documentaries. An acquired taste maybe, but I welcomed it wholeheartedly. Saying this is a documentary just about polaroid would be doing it a big disservice. I found it ironic how a movie reflecting on the analog experience captured that genuine retro feel more then let's say the latest Blade Runner installment. (Which I also loved btw)

Slow, ponderous, rambling. A documentary that does no service to its core subject other than to blur an confuse the story of a ground-breaking invention. An ego-massaging exercise for its makers that gets more annoying the longer it drags on.

This is how you made a documentary. At times I felt like I was watching a Kubrick's movie. This movie was not just beautiful, but also very meaningful. It wasn't just about photography, but for humanity in general. And it was not just a documentary, but a very distinguished piece of art. I felt so happy and I smiled a lot during its screening at Sofia Film Fest. I was impressed by the way life, time and people were presented in this movie.

A documentary is an article (visual, written or sound) explaining a situation, an object, a person or a combination of those. At that explanation is possible to alternate the time or space of the story in order to be attractive to the audience. Instant Dreams was an awful ride. I learned absolutely nothing about the chemical process of the Polaroid Camera, or how was truly the discovery of that type of photography. This movie is visually amazing, but does the public really think that those visuals are the real chemical process behind every Polaroid Photo!? The characters! Man, I'm truly sad for the documentarist who found these people. I'm sorry but they are not even that much interesting. Couldn't you find some other artists?...

Well, the only thing that I learned from this movie is that it is possible to get into festivals and get prices tricking the people, and that makes me sad.

Where to start with this documentary? Can you even call this a documentary? If you're expecting talking heads about the ins- en outs of a once great company or typical story structure for that matter, you are in the wrong place. There is history in it and Edwin Land plays a big part in the overall story, but it's no History Channel affair. I would say it's about how humanity relates to analog Polaroid photography and what we have lost along the way. The story focuses on Polaroid devotees in the age of digital. One uses these ethereal pictures to bond with his son, another uses it in her art and yet another is on a quest to recreate the secret chemical formula. Each of them has a special bond with analog. There is a girl in Tokyo, who I guess represents the way photography will evolve into the future. I was glued to my seat throughout, taking in the hypnotic scenery, going along for a ride that is best described as ' a dream within a dream'. I highly recommend it. If you enjoy off beat films or have an interest in photography. One of the most interesting things I have seen this year.

I'm not sure what this film was trying to be, but as a documentary it fails miserably. It felt more like an abstract art piece than a documentary. It's interesting to me that they selected that particular, titillating shot to represent the film to try to draw in viewers to an otherwise uninteresting conglomeration of overly extended shots of things that had nothing whatsoever to do with the subject. I found myself frequently fast forwarding through these extended scenes in an attempt to get to the "documentary" parts. If you're into staring at long abstract moving images with no structure, perhaps while under the influence of mind-altering substances, then this film might be for you. If you're looking for something that imparts cogent facts regarding the history of Polaroid and the recent attempt to recreate the film, this isn't that.

More a tone-poem than a traditional documentary. What lies beneath the surface of this documentary about the polaroid experience, is a story about how analog still resonates in the current age. We are all looking for tangible authentic experiences and Dr. Land once invented the perfect medium for that.

This is a documentary about Polaroid instant film. Might not be so obvious, but really, it really is. Falling asleep halfway through does not diminish said proclamation. Might require several viewings (as was the case) and multiple strong coffees, but "Instant Dreams" tells (kinda) the story of the revolutionary film process (well, until digital made everything obsolete) that swept the nation, nay the world.

Telling the tale in a bizarre, seemingly unrelated forked path, this flick follows oddball folks as they expound on the virtues of not waiting a week to see their snaps, plus a love for the stupendous superiority of blurry, colour challenged shots. Folks covet their Polaroids. And now when the "back to analogue" scam, er, movement has convinced hipsters to buy vinyl records at $40 a pop, the resurgence of expensive old school photographs is a thing.

Ramping up the quirk factor, is an oddly menacing, purply hued conspiratorial style doc within this doc, about mysterious science genius and Polaroid founder Edwin H. Land. In some rare, creepy, but in a cool X-Files way footage, he basically predicts the iPhone by taking out a dark object, faking/taking a picture with it, and making a claim that it will store all your information. Edwin H. Land passed in 1991. Is this for real? Is this like the moon landing? Who knows? Not me. But clearly a full blown documentary on Edwin H. Land is deserving, if not a ninety hour PBS project by Ken Burns.

Filled with weird, psychedelic interludes (the staying awake challenge), there's a "2001: A Space Odyssey" vibe going on here. As in, there's something way bigger than physical photos at play here. Or maybe not.

I loved "Instant Dreams", all three times, perhaps for the wrong reasons, but there you have it. Snap snap snap.