While we reflect on the past year, a curated list of outstanding feature-length pieces emerges. These accounts explore multifaceted subjects including political intrigue and scientific revelations to profoundly human journeys.
The Enigmatic Novelist and the Soul of a Country
An author gained prominence in the nineties with biting satires on autocratic rule. While numerous of his writer contemporaries have faced censorship or left the nation, he continues to move vast numbers of books. It prompts a key question: Has the author turned into an defender for the regime?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Civil War
The account of Mustafa, who at eighteen was told that his sole route to escape prison was to join the regime military. After 14 long years, his history as one of Assad's fighters could still get him killed.
The Fierce Feud Over Our Earliest Origins
The finding of fossilised bones in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically rewriting the story of our species. Yet, not everyone was in agreement. The ensuing bitter argument has dominated the careers of scholars ever since.
The UK Sect That Operated in the Open
Philippa Barnes was just a child when her family became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped uncover the disturbing extent of exploitation it had carried out.
The Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on International Law
Many voters hoped that the former human rights lawyer would restore the Britain's commitment to international law. But, the performance over the past year has been curiously mixed.
Shattering a Nation's Identity
A documentary tracking a remorseful fraudster as she records unscrupulous clients with covert recording asks difficult queries: Is this person genuinely a new person, and is the filmmaker's own intentions?
The Man Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Difficult Stains
From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and cleaned – everything. In their darkest moments, individuals turn to him to restore normalcy.
Can an Iconic Museum Endure an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by restitution claims, difficult finances and the discovery of an internal thief, Britain's number one museum is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Is it possible to salvage its legacy?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": A Torture of Severe Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries lacked an reliable treatment remedy – until perhaps now.
A Spectre of Radicalism in Contemporary Government
A militant fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his teachings influence the uppermost echelons of the state.
The English Professional With a Crooked Secret
With his keen mind and impeccable reputation, it's understandable that high-net-worth individuals entrusted him with their fortunes. Until they started to become suspicious.
The Tiny State That Became the Global Diplomatic Hub
An extremely rich Gulf state has risen as a major player on the world stage, working to solve some of the most long-standing disputes. What are driving this unprecedented endeavor?
An Close-Up View at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Battle
Extremely disliked at home, President Macron relishes the international stage, where he presents himself as the statesman most equipped to manage a particular sitting American leader. Seven years after their last encounter, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for battle.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the a major court with her partner, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?
An End of a Major Development Agency: Not Universal Regret
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US development organization, many around the world were surprised. But on the ground in a West African nation, this latest letdown was far from unexpected.
The Disturbing Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women
When information about a medical study in the sixties came to light, there was immense shock. But the full story of the procedures is still partially unclear.
The "Mozart" of the Attention Economy
He's endured a full day in slime, two days buried alive – and given away vast sums of cash to lucky participants. But are these productions simply incredibly savvy entertainment – or works of avant garde brilliance?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With sea levels rising, much of Tuvalu's population is grappling with the possibility that their homeland may in the near future become uninhabitable. The critical issue is: Where are they supposed to go?
One Sorrowful Story of Youth Homelessness
When I met a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. I still believed his situation could change for the better. I was devastatingly wrong.
The Global AI Competition and a Pivotal Move
In 2020, after living half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he could hold the key to who prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.
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