SSBNS: SHADOW WEAPONS

Silence and secrecy. These are the watchwords that reign aboard France's four ballistic missile submarines, called SSBNs. With a crew of 110, on missions lasting on average two and a half months, hidden somewhere in the depths of the ocean, any one of these airtight vessels of mass destruction can launch a nuclear strike against an enemy within seconds, at the order of the French president. In this 52-minute part-documentary, part-technical tutorial, we trace the history of the exceptional machines and discover how they are operated and maintained, with 3D animations, interviews with engineers, captains and sailors-and even an exclusive, breathtaking visit inside one of these monsters of power and technology.