Giant Squid: Filming the Impossible

The BBC’s Natural History Unit gets everywhere. So in a way, it’s admirable that some animals have managed to avoid its implacable attentions for this long. After all, the snow leopard nearly went extinct, but Attenborough’s minions still got to him. The giant squid has taken the precaution of making its home 1,000 metres under the sea. But even the giant squid can’t hide forever.

All the same, this doc does have the feel of an extended version of one of those behind-the-scenes add-ons that have become part of Attenborough’s flagship shows. In this case, however, the logistics are part of the fun: even staying under the sea for that long is tricky, but getting a squid to come and say hello is tougher still. Do they manage it? The conclusion is both revelatory and charming.