Upon consider the previous year, a assortment of remarkable feature-length stories stands out. These accounts probe multifaceted themes ranging from geopolitical intrigue and historical revelations to profoundly human journeys.
The Enigmatic Novelist and the Conscience of a Country
An author rose to fame in the 1990s with biting critiques on authoritarianism. While many of his literary peers have encountered censorship or left the nation, he still sell millions of books. It raises a pertinent query: Has the author evolved into an apologist for the regime?
Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Brutal Civil War
The tale of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his sole way to escape prison was to enlist in the regime forces. Following fourteen long years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers may still cost him his life.
The Acrimonious Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The finding of fossilised bones in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was heralded as completely re-writing the story of our human race. Yet, a faction was convinced. The resulting bitter scholarly debate has consumed the lives of researchers ever since.
The British Religious Group That Hid in the Open
One woman was just a young girl when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped expose the disturbing extent of exploitation it had carried out.
A Statesman's Curious Stance on International Law
Many followers hoped that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the the nation's commitment to international law. But, the record over the past year has been curiously mixed.
Breaking a Nation's Identity
A documentary following a repentant fraudster as she sets up corrupt clients with hidden cameras poses complex questions: Is this person genuinely changed, and is the director's true intentions?
A Person Who Remediates the UK's Most Difficult Scenes
From crime scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has seen – and dealt with – it all. In their stickiest moments, people turn to him to restore order.
Can an Iconic Museum Endure an "Omni-Crisis"?
Burdened by colonial controversy, strained finances and the discovery of an internal thief, Britain's premier cultural institution is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it salvage its standing?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries lacked an reliable treatment remedy – until potentially now.
A Legacy of Extremism in Modern Politics
A violent fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his teachings shape the very highest levels of government.
An British Gentleman With a Dishonest Side
With his keen mind and sterling credentials, it's little wonder that high-net-worth individuals entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they began to become wary.
The Small State That Emerged as the World's Mediation Center
An incredibly rich country has risen as a major player on the international scene, working to broker peace in some of the most long-standing conflicts. Which factors are fueling this unprecedented project?
A Inside View at a President Preparing for Global Battle
Deeply disliked at home, President Macron thrives on the international stage, where he presents himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to manage a particular former US president. Seven years after their previous encounter, a writer joined him as he prepared for the fray.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story
How did the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?
An Dismantling of a Major Development Agency: Not Widespread Mourning
When actions were made to drastically cut a prominent development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was far from unforeseen.
The Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When details about a scientific study in the 1960s were revealed, there was immense shock. But the full nature of what happened remains partially shrouded.
The "Mozart" of the Attention Age
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and showered vast amounts of money to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of avant garde brilliance?
Life in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With sea levels rising, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is confronting the possibility that their home may in the near future be submerged. The urgent question is: To where are they going to relocate?
One Tragic Story of Childhood Destitution
When I met a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still hoped his situation could change for the better. I was sadly wrong.
A International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Defection
In the recent past, after living decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he may hold the answers to who prevails in the global technological rivalry.
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