Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two blokes with big ideas (and even bigger egos) convince legendary rock bands that putting a flaming man or inflatable pig on an album cover is totally normal, forever confusing parents worldwide.

🍿 Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Genesis of an Art Phenomenon

Anton Corbijn’s ‘Squaring the Circle’ introduces us to Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey ‘Po’ Powell, two creative visionaries who founded Hipgnosis in Cambridge during the counter-cultural ferment of the 1960s. The documentary charts their unlikely partnership and their ambition to revolutionize album cover design, moving beyond simple band photos to conceptual, often surreal, imagery. From their humble beginnings, fueled by an experimental spirit and a network of friends including nascent rock legends like Pink Floyd, Hipgnosis quickly established a unique approach. They aimed to create visuals that were as impactful and imaginative as the music itself, setting the stage for their legendary career in the burgeoning music industry.

Rock Royalty and Iconic Imagery

The film delves into Hipgnosis’s golden era in the 1970s, a period when they became synonymous with some of the most recognizable album covers in music history. Through exclusive interviews with rock icons such as Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, David Gilmour, and Nick Mason, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Paul McCartney, and Peter Gabriel, the documentary reveals the often eccentric and demanding creative process behind these works. From the prism of ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ to the burning businessman on ‘Wish You Were Here’ and the surreal landscapes for Led Zeppelin, Hipgnosis’s work became an integral part of the artists’ identities. The film highlights how Thorgerson and Powell’s uncompromising artistic vision allowed them to dictate visual direction to bands, a level of creative freedom almost unheard of in today’s music industry.

Behind the Masterpieces: Methods and Madness

Beyond the final artwork, ‘Squaring the Circle’ provides fascinating insights into the elaborate and often challenging methods employed by Hipgnosis. Their approach frequently involved expensive, elaborate practical effects and on-location shoots rather than relying on studio trickery, leading to memorable anecdotes and humorous mishaps. The documentary showcases their dedication to crafting unique visual narratives for each album, even when their concepts were abstract or loosely connected to the music’s lyrical themes. This segment explores the dynamic between the often argumentative Storm Thorgerson and the more pragmatic Aubrey Powell, revealing the chemistry that drove their groundbreaking work and cemented their legacy as pioneers of album art.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Storm Thorgerson (Self(archive footage)): The enigmatic and highly creative co-founder of Hipgnosis, known for his unconventional and iconic album cover designs.
• Aubrey Powell (Self): The pragmatic co-founder of Hipgnosis who managed the logistical and business aspects of their groundbreaking album art projects.
• Paul McCartney (Self): An legendary musician and client who provides insights into Hipgnosis’s work with his band Wings.
• Roger Waters (Self): A prominent member of Pink Floyd who recounts the band’s close and often challenging relationship with Hipgnosis.
• David Gilmour (Self): The guitarist of Pink Floyd, sharing his perspective on how Hipgnosis’s visuals defined their iconic albums.
• Jimmy Page (Self): The renowned guitarist of Led Zeppelin, reflecting on Hipgnosis’s unique and often elaborate album cover creations for his band.
• Robert Plant (Self): The charismatic vocalist of Led Zeppelin, offering anecdotes about the adventurous process behind their legendary album artwork by Hipgnosis.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Storm Thorgerson: “I’m described by some as difficult to work with, by others as a ponce, by some as a narcissist with an ego the size a small planet, by some as really awkward, argumentative, by others yet as grumpy. Very few as handsome and sexy, which of course is the way I see myself.” – Said humorously by Storm Thorgerson himself, acknowledging his challenging personality while reflecting on how others perceived him.
• Noel Gallagher: “They represent the golden age of the music business, where people believed that music was art and it could change the world. Whereas now music is a commodity.” – Reflecting on the profound impact of Hipgnosis and how the music industry’s perception of art has changed over time.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: $111,589
• Worldwide Gross: $255,948

💥 Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, ‘Squaring the Circle’ absolutely blew me away! I grew up staring at those Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin album covers, wondering how they came up with them, and this film pulls back the curtain in the most fantastic way. I loved hearing all the wild stories directly from Aubrey Powell, and seeing iconic musicians like Roger Waters and Robert Plant talk about their experiences with Hipgnosis was just gold. The segment about the ‘Animals’ pig was hilarious! This documentary isn’t just about album art; it’s a nostalgic trip to a golden age where creativity knew no bounds. It truly made me appreciate the physical art of albums all over again.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic rock music (especially Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney)”
  • “Anyone interested in music history and cultural impact”
  • “Graphic designers and photographers”
  • “Documentary enthusiasts”
  • “Those nostalgic for the vinyl era and physical album artwork”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Historical depiction of rock and roll excess (implied, not explicit)”
  • “Mild language”

Professional Reviews

• The Cinematic Eye: “Anton Corbijn’s ‘Squaring the Circle’ is a vibrant, visually rich journey into the world of Hipgnosis. It masterfully unearths the chaotic genius behind rock’s most iconic album art, featuring candid insights from the legends themselves. The film perfectly captures the audacious spirit of an era when art truly elevated music. A fascinating dive into the creative process and the larger-than-life personalities that shaped it.
• Music Screen Daily: “While ‘Squaring the Circle’ might seem like a niche subject, Corbijn elevates it into a captivating narrative about artistic defiance and collaboration. The documentary showcases the sheer audacity and groundbreaking vision of Hipgnosis, reminding us of a time when album covers were essential extensions of the music. It’s a nostalgic trip for rock fans and a compelling study of creative partnership, even with its eccentricities.

Audience Reactions

Viewers universally loved the behind-the-scenes anecdotes and the often-absurd methods Hipgnosis used to create their art.: The film brilliantly captured the unique, untamed spirit of the 60s and 70s music scene and the profound impact of physical album art.

Audiences were thrilled by the candid interviews with legendary musicians, offering rare glimpses into their relationships with the design studio.: Many felt a deep sense of nostalgia for an era when album covers were an integral part of the music experience, often spending hours dissecting the imagery.

Overall Consensus: A must-see documentary that delivers a fascinating, often humorous, and deeply nostalgic look at the groundbreaking artistry of Hipgnosis and their indelible mark on rock music history.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Director Anton Corbijn intentionally filmed the documentary primarily in black and white, reserving color only for the iconic album covers, to unify the visual quality of varied archival footage and emphasize the artistry of the sleeves.”
• “The film features new, exclusive interviews with an impressive roster of legendary musicians who worked with Hipgnosis, including Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Paul McCartney, and Peter Gabriel.”
• “The documentary highlights Hipgnosis’s unique, often chaotic, and highly spontaneous production methods, which frequently involved elaborate real-world physical shoots for effects long before digital manipulation was possible.”
• “The film includes a moment where graphic designer Peter Saville hints at the inspiration for Joy Division’s iconic ‘Unknown Pleasures’ album cover, showcasing the broader influence of graphic design in music.”

🖥️ How to Watch Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis?

Discover ‘Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis,’ the captivating documentary that takes you behind the iconic album art. As of early 2024, the film is available for streaming on Netflix in some regions. For broader access, you can typically rent or purchase it digitally through platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube Movies. Check your preferred platform for the most current availability and pricing to dive into the untold stories of rock’s greatest visual innovators.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis, you might like these similar films:

• Sound City (2013): Explores the history and impact of a legendary recording studio, much like ‘Squaring the Circle’ explores the influence of an iconic design studio on music history.
• Helvetica (2007): A documentary that delves into the profound cultural impact of graphic design (a typeface) on daily life, paralleling Hipgnosis’s widespread influence through album art.
• Almost Famous (2000): A highly acclaimed fictional film that perfectly encapsulates the atmosphere and experiences of 1970s rock music and its accompanying culture.
• The Beatles: Get Back (2021): Offers an immersive, extensive behind-the-scenes look at the creative process and interpersonal dynamics of an iconic band, resonating with those interested in music history and artistry.
• Pink Floyd – The Wall (1982): An iconic rock opera with surreal and impactful visuals, deeply tied to the band Pink Floyd, a primary client of Hipgnosis, appealing to fans of their unique aesthetic.

🛒 Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis Related Products

• Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary Box Set: Celebrate five decades of a masterpiece with this lavish box set featuring the newly remastered album on vinyl and CD, Blu-ray audio, a photo book, replica concert tickets, and more. A true collector’s dream.
• Hipgnosis Portraits: Dive deeper into the visual world of Hipgnosis with this stunning hardcover book, featuring their iconic album covers, behind-the-scenes photography, and untold stories directly from the archives of Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell.
• Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Prism T-Shirt: A high-quality, comfortable cotton t-shirt featuring the iconic prism design from Pink Floyd’s ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ album cover, a quintessential piece of Hipgnosis artistry.
• Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy Album Cover Art Print: A museum-quality Giclée art print of Hipgnosis’s iconic ‘Houses of the Holy’ album cover, reproduced with vibrant detail on archival paper, perfect for framing.

🎧 Soundtrack

Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Time” – performed by Pink Floyd
• “Stairway to Heaven” – performed by Led Zeppelin
• “Band on the Run” – performed by Wings
• “Solsbury Hill” – performed by Peter Gabriel
• “I’m Not In Love” – performed by 10cc

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Anton Corbijn’s Closet Picks

Ever wondered what goes on inside the mind of the director who brought the incredible story of Hipgnosis to life? Join Anton Corbijn as he shares his favorite films, giving you a fascinating peek into the cinematic influences that shaped his unique vision for ‘Squaring the Circle’.

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