While we look back on the year gone by, a assortment of exceptional feature-length stories shines. Such pieces delve into complex themes ranging from geopolitical machinations and scientific revelations to profoundly personal journeys.
The Mysterious Author and the Soul of a Country
An author became known in the post-Soviet era with biting commentaries on autocratic rule. Although several of his writer contemporaries have faced censorship or left the nation, he still move millions of copies. This prompts a key query: Has he turned into an defender for the establishment?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Conflict
The account of a young man, who at eighteen was told that his sole path to escape incarceration was to enlist in the government forces. Following 14 years, his former role as one of Assad's fighters might still cost him his life.
The Bitter Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The unearthing of fossilised bones in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as completely rewriting the story of our human race. However, a faction was convinced. The ensuing bitter argument has dominated the careers of scholars ever since.
A British Cult That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was only a young girl when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in reveal the appalling scale of mistreatment it had committed.
A Leader's Puzzling Stance on International Law
Many voters hoped that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the the nation's commitment to human rights. Yet, the performance over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.
Shattering a Nation's Self-Image
A documentary following a remorseful master criminal as she ensnares corrupt clients with covert recording poses thorny questions: Is she really changed, and what are the director's true methods?
A Man Who Decontaminates Britain's Most Traumatic Stains
From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has seen – and cleaned – everything. In their darkest times, individuals depend on him to bring back normalcy.
Can an Famous Institution Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Plagued by debates over its collection, difficult funding and the discovery of an internal thief, Britain's premier museum is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it repair its legacy?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Extreme Pregnancy
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has long lacked an consistent medical end – until potentially now.
The Ghost of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics
A violent extremist and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. In the present day, his teachings shape the very highest levels of the state.
An English Professional With a Fraudulent Side
With his sharp mind and impeccable credentials, it's understandable that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their fortunes. Then they began to get wary.
The Tiny Nation That Became the World's Mediation Capital
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has become a key force on the international scene, working to solve some of the most complex disputes. Which factors are driving this ambitious project?
An Inside View at a President Preparing for International Summitry
Deeply unpopular at domestically, President Macron thrives on the world arena, where he positions himself as the leader uniquely positioned to handle a particular sitting American leader. 7 years after their last meeting, a journalist joined him as he readied himself for the fray.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
How did the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with killing their two-week-old baby?
An Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Far From Universal Mourning
When actions were made to dismantle a major US development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest letdown was far from unforeseen.
The Disturbing 1960s Experiment on South Asian Women
When information about a scientific experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was immense shock. But the exact story of the events is still somewhat shrouded.
The "Mozart" of the Online Economy
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and distributed vast sums of cash to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply very clever clickbait – or acts of daring genius?
Life in a Nation Endangered by the Rising Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's population is facing the reality that their home may in the near future cease to exist. The critical issue is: To where are they going to relocate?
A Sorrowful Case of Childhood Homelessness
As I encountered a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his life might turn around. I was sadly misplaced.
The Global AI Competition and a Crucial Defection
In the recent past, after living decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to China. Now, he might possess the key to which nation wins the worldwide technological rivalry.
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