Upon consider the year gone by, a selection of remarkable feature-length pieces emerges. Such pieces probe multifaceted topics ranging from political machinations and historical discoveries to deeply personal sagas.
The Mysterious Novelist and the Conscience of a Nation
An author rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with scathing commentaries on power. While several of his literary contemporaries have faced censorship or left the nation, he continues to move millions of copies. This poses a pertinent query: Has the author become an apologist for the establishment?
Endurance and Collaboration in Syria's Brutal Civil War
The account of a young man, who at eighteen was told that his sole route to escape prison was to enlist in the regime forces. After 14 long years, his former role as one of Assad's fighters could now cost him his life.
A Bitter Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The discovery of fossilised bones in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was hailed as fundamentally changing the narrative of our human race. But, not everyone was persuaded. The ensuing intense controversy has dominated the lives of researchers ever since.
A UK Sect That Hid in the Open
One woman was only a child when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in uncover the shocking extent of exploitation it had committed.
A Leader's Puzzling Record on International Law
A great many followers hoped that the prime minister would renew the the nation's dedication to human rights. Yet, the record over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.
Challenging a Country's Self-Image
A documentary featuring a repentant fraudster as she ensnares corrupt individuals with hidden cameras poses difficult queries: Is she really a new person, and what are the director's own methods?
A Person Who Decontaminates Britain's Darkest Scenes
From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has seen – and dealt with – everything. In their stickiest moments, individuals turn to him to restore peace.
Can an Iconic Museum Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?
Burdened by colonial controversy, precarious funding and the exposure of an internal thief, the UK's premier museum is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Is it possible to repair its legacy?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": The Suffering of Extreme Condition
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries been without an reliable medical end – up until possibly now.
A Ghost of Radicalism in Modern Government
A militant extremist and pioneer of hate, a rabbi died a political pariah 35 years ago. In the present day, his ideology influence the uppermost levels of the state.
An British Professional With a Dishonest Secret
With his keen mind and flawless background, it's understandable that affluent clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Until they started to become uneasy.
A Tiny State That Became the World's Mediation Capital
An extremely rich Gulf state has transformed into a major actor on the world stage, working to broker peace in some of the most complex conflicts. Which factors are behind this ambitious project?
A Close-Up View at a Leader Preparing for Global Battle
Extremely disliked at home, the French leader relishes the international stage, where he presents himself as the statesman best placed to deal with a particular sitting American leader. Seven years after their last encounter, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for battle.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?
An End of a Global Development Organization: Far From Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to dismantle a prominent development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest letdown was far from unforeseen.
A Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Mothers
When details about a medical study in the 1960s became public, there was widespread anxiety. But the precise truth of the procedures is still somewhat contested.
A "Mozart" of the Online Age
He's endured 24 hours in slime, two days buried alive – and distributed vast amounts of money to selected contestants. But are these productions simply very clever clickbait – or acts of daring brilliance?
Life in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With sea levels increasing, much of Tuvalu's residents is confronting the reality that their homeland may in the near future cease to exist. The urgent issue is: To where are they going to relocate?
A Heartbreaking Case of Youth Destitution
When I encountered a young boy he was 13 and homeless. Even then believed his situation could turn around. I was sadly misplaced.
A International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Crucial Move
In 2020, after living decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he might possess the key to who wins the global technological rivalry.
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