While we consider the previous year, a selection of outstanding feature-length pieces shines. These pieces probe multifaceted subjects ranging from political machinations and historical revelations to deeply personal stories.
The Mysterious Author and the Conscience of a Nation
An author rose to fame in the nineties with scathing critiques on power. Whereas many of his writer contemporaries have faced suppression or fled the nation, he continues to sell vast numbers of books. It poses a key query: Has the author evolved into an apologist for the establishment?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Horrific Civil War
The account of Mustafa, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only way to escape incarceration was to enlist in the regime military. After fourteen long years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters might still put him in mortal danger.
A Bitter Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The discovery of ancient bones in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as completely rewriting the story of our species. Yet, a faction was in agreement. The ensuing heated scholarly debate has consumed the careers of scholars ever since.
The British Cult That Hid in the Open
One woman was just a young girl when her family became part of the a religious community. As an adult, she played a key role in expose the appalling breadth of abuse it had committed.
The Prime Minister's Curious Record on Human Rights
Numerous followers anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would restore the Britain's dedication to human rights. Yet, the record over the past year has been strikingly mixed.
Breaking a Nation's Myth
A film following a remorseful fraudster as she records unscrupulous individuals with covert recording poses complex questions: Is she truly changed, and what are the director's own motives?
A Person Who Remediates the UK's Darkest Scenes
From homicide sites to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and dealt with – everything. In their stickiest times, people rely on him to bring back peace.
Will an Iconic Museum Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?
Plagued by restitution claims, difficult funding and the revelation of an internal thief, the UK's leading museum is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Is it possible to repair its standing?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": The Torture of Extreme Pregnancy
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has long been without an reliable medical solution – until possibly now.
The Ghost of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics
A violent extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his teachings influence the very highest levels of government.
An British Professional With a Fraudulent Side
With his keen intellect and impeccable background, it's little wonder that wealthy clients trusted him with their fortunes. Until they began to become suspicious.
A Small State That Emerged as the World's Mediation Capital
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has risen as a key player on the world stage, working to solve some of the most intractable conflicts. Which factors are fueling this unprecedented endeavor?
A Inside Look at a President Gearing Up for International Battle
Deeply disliked at home, the French leader thrives on the international arena, where he positions himself as the leader best placed to handle a particular former US president. 7 years after their last encounter, a writer joined him as he prepared for battle.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case
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 Global Aid Organization: Not Universal Mourning
When efforts were made to wind down a prominent aid agency, many around the world were shocked. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this most recent betrayal was not unexpected.
A Shocking Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women
When information about a scientific experiment in the 1960s came to light, there was widespread anxiety. But the full story of what happened is still somewhat shrouded.
A "Master" of the Online Age
He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and showered vast amounts of money to selected contestants. But are these productions simply incredibly clever clickbait – or works of artistic brilliance?
Existence in a Nation Threatened by the Rising Seas
With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's people is confronting the possibility that their islands may in the near future become uninhabitable. The critical issue is: Where are they going to go?
A Sorrowful Case of Youth Destitution
As I encountered a young boy he was 13 and homeless. Even then thought his life could turn around. I was sadly wrong.
A International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Crucial Defection
In 2020, after living half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Now, he may hold the secret to which nation wins the global technological rivalry.
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