Hipgnosis’s body of work is so rich, brilliant, and recognizable, that it’s hard not to at least sit in awe as they flash by you in this documentary. The accompanying stories behind their creation, sometimes told by Thorgerson and Powell, other times by their musician clients like Jimmy Page and Paul McCartney, are also pleasant and informative enough to paint, in whole, an interesting picture. But apart from the covers themselves, Squaring the Circle doesn’t have much else going for it. The co-founders’ history is too brief and plain to render drama, and their upbringing too upper-class and male to be relatable. A more broad, ambitious goal would’ve been to parallel the history of these artworks with the history of rock music itself, but this niche documentary seems uninterested in explaining itself to outsiders and newcomers. That said, it still serves as a precious account for those familiar with Hipgnosis’ pieces. 

The documentary is at its best when it takes pains to explain the technical “hows” of each artwork, instead of simply recalling celebrity anecdotes. Funnily enough, it’s Noel Gallagher—notably not a Hipgnosis client and present here as the voice of the newer, influenced generation—who has the best soundbite out of all the interviewed guests. To paraphrase, he says Hipgnosis represented a time when music and albums were pure art, whereas now they’re just commodities. It’s painfully true, but also one that could’ve been explored in depth by the filmmakers.