Jacques Bogopolsky/Boolsky/Bolsey’s films, cameras, and inventions, artifacts of a seminal life and legacy, lay buried in the anonymity of a group of dusty and water-stained boxes. Each a missing puzzle piece to the story of a pioneer in early still and motion picture photography. Forgotten and lost, these boxes would remain sealed for 42 years following the inventor’s death. With the contents now strewn across a paint speckled New England floor, Alyssa Bolsey, a young filmmaker, discovers that over 80 years earlier, her great-grandfather had invented one of the most influential and beloved motion picture cameras of all time: the Bolex. Who was this man and why had his life become such an enigma? Insatiably curious, Alyssa leaves Hollywood to track his life and embarks on a journey taking her to Russia, throughout the United States, and culminating in a trip to the birth place of Jacques Bolsey's most noted inventions and of her own origins - Switzerland. A land where Bolsey's engineering and artistic talents merged with his studies in art and medicine, the seeds sown and nurtured for the prolific inventor to be. What follows is a glimpse into his struggle to survive and create while traveling the globe in the midst of ongoing geo-political turmoil. In addition to the Bolex camera, Bolsey created a prodigious number of other inventions, each designed to solve a problem of the day. From innovative camera designs and plans for an electric car, to visions of a utopian community, Bolsey felt compelled to shape the future, and worked feverishly until he drew his final breath. Almost 80 years after its creation and 50 years after his death, his masterpiece, the Bolex camera, is still a vehicle for filmmakers today. We begin at an antique camera repair shop where Alyssa takes Jacques Bolsey’s original 1927 Bolex to be repaired. Now armed with a Bolex as her eyes, and her great-grandfather’s journal as a guide, Alyssa embarks on a journey to retrace her roots through Bolsey’s steps. Using contemporary film equipment as well as the Bolex, the discoveries are captured by a small camera crew of locals. Along the way Alyssa is joined by various family members and American and European historians, who help piece together the life of the inventor. Additionally, users of his diverse collection of photographic equipment, encompassing amateur, professional, spy, military, miniature, budget, and high end cameras, share their experiences and footage. These devices and their output serve as a snapshot of 20th century history. Around the world, respected filmmakers discuss the Bolex’s influence on their careers and its impact on cinematic history. Using never before seen artifacts, Alyssa uncovers the story of a man so grand his life could be fiction.		Documentary Portrait, 2011 90 min., HD Concept: Alyssa Bolsey Written & directed by: Alyssa Bolsey