Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine Review: Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine is a documentary film directed by Shai Gal and follows extraordinary engineers and scientists as they unveil the James Webb Space Telescope. The film has a runtime of 64 minutes.
Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine Plot
Unknown is a four-part documentary series that brings forth the incredible stories of different people across different fields of work who are doing their best for their work and for society as a whole. The stories all venture down unexpected and unknown paths that push the boundaries of knowledge and bring forth incredible stories which will boggle your mind!
The documentary follows brilliant and extraordinary scientists and engineers who work day in and day out to make the James Webb Space Telescope a reality for scientists in the present as well as for incoming generations. Taking a unique look behind the curtain of NASA’s ambitious mission, we are subjected to a heart-pumping ride into the making of this device that has the hopes, dreams and aspirations of hundreds of workers as well as a huge investment going into the billions!
Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine Review
Ah, space – a vast multitude of nothing and everything. A place where dreams get made and eventually come true, and sometimes they get crushed. Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine is an enthralling watch; for those interested in the stars, what lies beyond and the process of launching an unmanned operation into space and making it correctly function, this is going to leave you looking at the screen intrigued, wondering what is coming up next.
The film follows what goes on in the minds of the people behind such huge accomplishments, their thoughts, feelings and the stress that they go through before and even after the launch. As James Webb Space Telescope orbits the sun, closer to home, those controlling it wonder whether all the steps will go right or not. And when it does, the documentary gives us a look into some of the most beautiful images out there, of stars billions of light years away who have made us and who hold a beautiful history that was, till then, shrouded in history.
Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine will fill your head and heart with wonder and hope – towards the end of its runtime, one of the scientists mention that these images bring hope and goodness in a time that is quite dark. And I think I also agree with that sentiment. And in that sense, the documentary does a fantastic job of bringing that emotion and that hope to the screen and making us feel those same feelings. Even the background score works in a way that will enhance whatever you are seeing onscreen.
I feel like this documentary was meant to be seen on the big screen. The images are just so beautiful that you will be forced to lose yourself in them. This is one of those documentary films that will make you wish that it were a TV show; if nothing, then just to stare at stars and understand what’s hiding behind them. The explanations are also quite great, and the steps are broken down quite well so that laymen can understand everything that is happening quite easily.
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The documentary is as much about the telescope as it is about the humans behind them. We see them at their best and worst in short bursts. How everyone feels and what is riding for them behind such an astronomical moment in history. With no room for errors, it is almost stressful to watch everyone working to make this a success! We see small snippets of different scientists at home looking tensed as the telescope is launched into space as well as the fact that this entire operation took place during COVID.
With the entire world watching, you are transported to a time where hundreds of people are looking at their screens at every moment and wondering if everything will go without a hitch.
Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine Review: Final Thoughts
Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine is an engaging and mesmerising watch and is the best one of the lot. There’s a ton of hope in every scene of the film. If I had one thing to complain about, it would be that it ends too quickly. Maybe a slightly longer runtime would’ve helped the audience to a few aspects a bit better. That being said, the docufilm is very well done and will be enjoyable and informative for anyone who likes to look up at the sky and wonder what lies beneath – where do we all come from?
Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine is streaming on Netflix.
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