The Magical Forest

The Magical Forest

2012, Nature  -   34 Comments
8.53
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Ratings: 8.53/10 from 306 users.

The ecosystem is a beautifully complex collection of life forms working in harmony. The intricacies of these connections are explored in The Magical Forest, a riveting episode from the BBC's nature series Secrets of our Living Planet.

The filmmakers embed themselves in one of the most glorious natural environments in the world: the sprawling seasonal forests of North America. Here, plant and animal life share a stunning give-and-take relationship. The most profound examples of this can be found during the autumn as the cold moves in, insect life burrows deep into the ground, and the trees begin to shed their leaves.

Nature depends on a series of surprising relationships in order to thrive during even the harshest of conditions. The film provides a remarkable glimpse into these relationships by showing how they set the stage for the oncoming brutality of winter temperatures, and lay the groundwork for a rebirth in the spring and summer.

The process begins with a population of flying squirrels and the truffles they gnaw upon as winter approaches. Upon being eaten, these truffles release nutrient-rich spores into the soil and allow thousand-year-old trees to grow as the seasons change. The film then turns to the forest's flowing waters, and the tens of millions of salmon who spawn there. These salmon serve as the main food supply for bears and cubs, and provide them with reserves of sustenance during their period of hibernation. As the carcasses of these salmon decompose, they also offer a feast of nutrients for starving soil.

The symbiosis continues as the winter season clutches its icy grip upon the region. This is the period of time when hundreds of Canadian lynx emerge in search of well-camouflaged snowshoe rabbits. As the season winds down, the fates of both predator and prey are largely dependent upon the actions of tiny bug worms who exist on burgeoning tree leaves.

The images that occupy The Magical Forest are awe-inspiring not only for their dazzling beauty, but for the unexpected connections they capture. Nature lovers in particular will relish this rare and informative look inside the inner workings of a living forest.

Directed by: Gavin Maxwell

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Jahnavi
Jahnavi
1 year ago

Wow! One of the most gorgeous nature documentaries I’ve ever seen! So deeply enjoyable, awe-inspiring and educational.

Glizzy Gobblerr
Glizzy Gobblerr
2 years ago

Who feels like givin me some interactions

Connor
Connor
2 years ago

You guys are nerds

julianna
julianna
2 years ago

what are 10 interactions?

RaraAvis
RaraAvis
4 years ago

PERFECT!

green bird
green bird
5 years ago

The majority of lifelong English speakers can't pronounce "th" - "that" is pronounced "dat" or "zat", "breath" becomes "bread", "earth" becomes "erff", "truth" becomes "trut" or "troof". The same is true of the r sound - it just comes out different - it's a speech mannerism, not speech impediment.

Paul R
Paul R
5 years ago

Oh my lord - "It doesn't get any better than this!" when a squirrel flies into his sternum.
Can't stop laughing...

Paul R
Paul R
5 years ago

I'm not overly fond of the narrator's voice. Might just be me. The rest of it is great.

David
David
5 years ago

Sense of humor: "Flying Squiwwels, fowest floow"! Anyway, the doc is excellent. I don't see evolution in this (thankfully they didn't drive that point), but I do see the hand of God the designer. To me, the intricacy of interactions in the ecosystem, just like the "fearful" complexity of our physical bodies, is increasingly showing us design.

Golfinho
Golfinho
5 years ago

Flying Squiwwels, it doesn’t come any better than that!

Irene
Irene
6 years ago

I was so mindblown by it, I didn't notice the music, his accent, his shoes etc.. what ever else you people are whining about

Bubba
Bubba
6 years ago

A thoroughly entertaining story about the wonders of nature. Absolutely beautiful photography accompanied by an interesting and educational narration. If you appreciate learning about natural phenomena, you will enjoy this film.

Sohan
Sohan
6 years ago

Wonderfully pictured and described. Inspires me to be more with nature. Thanks for this.

Fowest Gump
Fowest Gump
6 years ago

Fowest full of twees

Willy
Willy
7 years ago

I agwee with the comments about the stwange pwonouciation of the awwwws in the nawwation.

cristian
cristian
7 years ago

I Believe the net of fungus does more than transferring nutrients they exchange information via chemicals they do now all the plants around the neighbourhood...it;s like they have a society there ...in 2016 they did experiments and tested that via this fungus and who knows what else they do communicate so they can know how the nature around will affect them and to take measures it is a living breathing Planet

Keir
Keir
7 years ago

I'm sorry the documentary started looking pretty, but I can't listen to him say fowest for 60 mins. Time to find another nature doc

Oscar
Oscar
8 years ago

Fowest fowest fowest, why become a narrator when you have a speech impediment :) Ruined it for me.

Phil Dubuque
Phil Dubuque
8 years ago

A beautifully filmed documentary with an excellent narration. I would recommend it to anyone who loves nature documentaries. One of the best I've seen!

Misty
Misty
8 years ago

Great documentary. What an intricate Eco system. It is so amazing to see how perfectly it is orchestrated. It clearly shows the truth of what God says in that he is revealed for all to see through nature.

Elle
Elle
8 years ago

Huh, the narrator talks a little like Elmer Fudd... It was chuckle worthy.

Teresa Smith
Teresa Smith
8 years ago

What's with the Special K advertisement every couple of minutes. Totally distracting and made me quit watching. Well, that must be why it is free. Too bad, though.

binaya
binaya
9 years ago

it must be a musical documentary rather than natural...back ground sounds irritating..

BillyGackins
BillyGackins
9 years ago

Narrated by Homestar Runner.

AntiTheist666
AntiTheist666
9 years ago

Why does a Tree need a Fish? Does a Bear sh1t in the woods?
These questions and more are answered in this simply fantastic doc! If you like down to Earth nature docs that show the wonderful symbiotic nature of the ecosystem, then this is for you. Presented by the excellent Chris Packham whose enthusiasm and love of nature is joyously infectious, Flying Squirrels seem to like him to.

Packed with loads of close up, slow - mo action, all in glorious HD, some of the scenes are cinematically brilliant and capture the whole cycle of this Magical Forest. The scientific data revealed at the end was so surprising but I won’t spoil it for anyone, just watch it, it’s fantastic.