Filmwasters
Which Board? => Main Forum => : Francois May 01, 2025, 03:24:26 PM
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Now, for those of us who either live in the USA or have access to the PBS Station of your choice, you definitely have to mark your calendar for May 19th!
On their show "The American Experience", there will be a documentary called Mr Polaroid about Edwin Land.
Here's the preview
https://youtu.be/sGQwup50rVM?si=-bHQjK4VxY0EPuS3
I can't wait to see this! 👍😊
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It would have been interesting to watch this, but it will probably not be available in Europe unless you want to pay for it. Edwin Land deserves more recognition for his work, much more so than the Jobs and Gates' of this world who cashed in tens of millions of dollars in government grants. Another person in deserve of praise is "doc" Florian Kaps who made it possible for us to go on shooting Polaroids today. His latest adventure is the DIY type 100 Polaroid film that you can assemble yourself: https://supersense.com/oneinstant/#diy (https://supersense.com/oneinstant/#diy)
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I hope they put it on Youtube. This is something everyone needs to see.
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It's now on YouTube
https://youtu.be/2k2XVoJDS_0?si=8exCfKohQY30Snwx
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Not available here.
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They blocked it here too.
But I was able to watch it on the nearest station yesterday and I must say I was disappointed a bit as I was expecting it to be more photography centric.
Instead they concentrated on talking about the corporate part of Polaroid, it's impact in being one of the first companies to be open to black employees, but also one that was selling passport and ID card equipment to South Africa which used it to make the infamous apartheid passports.
They barely talked about the SX-70, they didn't even mention packfilm and didn't mention how important the company's work with artists was. You only saw a glimpse of Andy Warhol, no mention of Ansel Adams or anyone else.
To put it simply, it was mostly a documentary about Edwin Land and his chief chemist. The documentary ends with the Kodak lawsuit and the first Polaroid bankruptcy.
While it was well made and well researched, they could have made it a lot more uplifting and inspiring. But instead, they made something where they show no sympathy towards Land and leave you hanging on a sour note.
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Thanks for the review Francois, I won't bother to watch it even if I get access. I've got a few books about Land and Polaroid, they are probably better when it comes to the photographic part of his life.
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I also think that the books are a way better option.
I don't know what it is these days with documentaries and books; they always seem to turn to show the dark side of things and then revel in the injustice and misery? I feel we need more feel good content these days, not more drama.