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POINT OF NO RETURN documents the journey of the Solar Impulse — the first solar-powered, round-the-world flight — demonstrating the tremendous potential of renewable energy sources.
Soaring at 28,000 feet without a drop of fuel, nothing is predictable. Not the weather, not the technology. And certainly not the fate of a man, alone for five days in a fragile, first-of-its-kind aircraft with nothing but ocean below.
POINT OF NO RETURN takes viewers behind the headlines of the first solar-powered flight around the world, where two courageous pilots take turns battling nature, their own crew, and sometimes logic itself, to achieve the impossible. Not just to make history, but to inspire a revolution.
95 and 57 minutes
SDH captions for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Directed by Noel Dockstader, Quinn Kanaly
Executive Producers: Ian Reinhard, Angus Macqueen, Dana Nachman
Cinematography: Mathieu Czernichow, Yoann Le Gruiec, Daniel Meyers, Payam Azadi, Noel Dockstader
Editors: Daniel Meyers, Payam Azadi, Noel Dockstader
Music: Dave Tweedie
A Far West Film Production in association with WGBH Boston
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COMMUNITY SCREENINGS (single events with license to charge admission) |
"Just WOW! What an incredible story filled with remarkable highs and lows, both physical and emotional. POINT OF NO RETURN magnificently demonstrates how inventors construct the path from 'impossible to inevitable.' It is highly recommended for anyone who dreams of bringing huge ideas to life."
Dr. Tina Seelig, Professor of the Practice, Department of Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Author, inGenius: A Crash Course on Creativity
"A documentary that is as dramatic and thrilling as any cinematic space odyssey...A must-see documentary that not only inspires but also offers a powerful wake-up call to action."
Herbert Paine, Broadway World
"Think we can't take on big technological challenges any longer? Believe our energy conundrum is hopeless? POINT OF NO RETURN proves otherwise! A stunningly beautiful and engaging film, POINT OF NO RETURN restores faith in human ingenuity, international cooperation, and our ability to reach new frontiers in sustainable energy. It is sure to inspire students in engineering as well as well those in the environmental sciences."
Brian Black, Professor, History and Environmental Studies, Pennsylvania State University - Altoona, Editor, Energy and Society
"[An] absorbing documentary...A fascinating feat of human and scientific accomplishment."
Justin Lowe, The Hollywood Reporter
"This is a truly outstanding film that skillfully captures the emotion of two adventurer pilots and their crew as they attempt the unimaginable. The viewer is taken on their audacious journey filled with constant challenges and highs and lows, and is witness to an indomitable human spirit on display throughout. This is a very enjoyable film that I would encourage all to watch; I expect that it will be of particular interest in educational settings."
Alan J. Stolzer, Dean of the College of Aviation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
"Filmmakers Noel Dockstader and Quinn Kanaly captured Solar Impulse through the whole project...They've created a beautiful document of a dream given form."
Bradley Gibson, Film Threat
"Watching POINT OF NO RETURN was a deeply moving opportunity. Especially in these times, students need to build confidence in science and engineering to face and to conquer climate change. The self-professed goal of the Solar Impulse flight was not to circumnavigate the earth without the use of fossil fuels. It was exactly to send this message: 'What we do in the air we can do on the ground' with renewable energy."
Dr. Anthony Ingraffea, Professor Emeritus of Engineering, Cornell University, Senior Fellow, Physicians, Scientists and Engineers for Healthy Energy
"Everyone, not just technology fans, green romantics and STEM graduates, will thrill to POINT OF NO RETURN."
Don Wallace, Honolulu Magazine
"Experience the excitement, inspiration, frustration, disappointment, and elation as the Solar Impulse becomes the first solar-powered plane to successfully fly around the world. This was a dangerous endeavor plagued by challenges, but necessary to prove what air travel can become - clean and dependent on renewable energy rather than fossil fuels."
Joy Scrogum, ISSP Certified Sustainability Professional, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
"POINT OF NO RETURN offers a beacon of hope for transforming today's society into one which uses clean technology."
Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine
"Since its inception, the aviation age has been powered by fossil fuel. But are there alternatives? POINT OF NO RETURN tells the story of the visionary project to build a solar-powered aircraft and fly it around the world - a feat that was accomplished in 2015-16 over the course of 16 months in 17 flight segments. Challenges for the next generation involve making solar-powered aircraft safe, reliable, and commercially feasible."
James Rodger Fleming, Charles A. Dana Professor of Science, Technology, and Society Program, Colby College, Author, Fixing the Sky, Inventing Atmospheric Science, and FIRST WOMAN
"A compelling tale of ambition and endurance...The lesson is one of taking risks, innovating, and embracing new challenges to create a better tomorrow."
Pat Mullen, POV Magazine
"Dramatic...The two pilots push on, often facing unimaginable risks. This is an exciting adventure and a testimony to the quest for renewable energy."
Candace Smith, Booklist Online
"Recommended...Simply breath taking...It stands as a testament of inspiration and goal setting, and the very essence of human drive for achievement."
Michael J. Coffta, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Educational Media Reviews Online