While we reflect on the past year, a assortment of exceptional feature-length stories stands out. These pieces probe complex subjects ranging from political machinations and historical discoveries to deeply human journeys.
The Enigmatic Author and the Moral Fabric of a Nation
Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with scathing satires on authoritarianism. While several of his writer contemporaries have faced censorship or left the nation, he continues to sell millions of books. It raises a pressing query: Has the author evolved into an supporter for the regime?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Civil War
The tale of Mustafa, who at eighteen was informed that his only way out of incarceration was to enlist in the regime military. Following 14 years, his past as one of Assad's fighters might now get him killed.
The Acrimonious Dispute Over Our Earliest Origins
The finding of ancient remains in the Chadian desert in 2001 was hailed as radically re-writing the history of our human race. However, not everyone was persuaded. The resulting intense scholarly debate has dominated the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A British Sect That Hid in the Open
Philippa Barnes was just a young girl when her family became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped uncover the disturbing scale of abuse it had perpetrated.
The Prime Minister's Unexpected Record on Human Rights
Numerous followers anticipated that the prime minister would renew the Britain's dedication to international law. But, the track record over the past year has been curiously inconsistent.
Shattering a Nation's Myth
A documentary following a repentant master criminal as she records corrupt clients with hidden cameras asks thorny questions: Is this person really a new person, and is the director's own intentions?
A Man Who Remediates the UK's Most Traumatic Stains
From homicide sites to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and cleaned – it all. In their most challenging hours, families turn to him to restore normalcy.
Can an Famous Institution Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Beset by colonial controversy, difficult funding and the exposure of an internal thief, Britain's number one cultural institution is in deep trouble. The question remains: Is it possible to repair its reputation?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Severe Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has long been without an reliable medical end – up until potentially now.
A Ghost of Extremism in Contemporary Government
A militant fanatic and pioneer of hate, a rabbi died a political pariah 35 years ago. In the present day, his teachings permeate the highest echelons of the state.
The English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his keen intellect and impeccable background, it's understandable that high-net-worth clients entrusted him with their assets. Then they started to get uneasy.
A Tiny Nation That Emerged as the World's Mediation Center
An extremely wealthy Gulf state has risen as a significant force on the world stage, attempting to broker peace in some of the most intractable disputes. What are behind this unprecedented role?
A Close-Up Look at a President Gearing Up for Global Battle
Deeply unpopular at home, President Macron thrives on the international stage, where he positions himself as the leader uniquely positioned to deal with a particular former American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for the summit.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
How did the child of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their newborn infant?
The End of a Major Aid Organization: Far From Universal Regret
When efforts were made to dismantle a major US aid agency, many around the world were surprised. But on the ground in a West African nation, this latest betrayal was not unexpected.
The Unethical 1960s Study on South Asian Women
When information about a medical study in the 1960s became public, there was immense anxiety. But the precise nature of the procedures is still partially shrouded.
A "Master" of the Attention Economy
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and given away vast sums of cash to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of artistic brilliance?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Rising Seas
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's people is confronting the prospect that their islands may soon become uninhabitable. The pressing issue is: Where are they going to relocate?
One Sorrowful Case of Youth Homelessness
When I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. Even then thought his life could change for the better. That hope was sadly misplaced.
A International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Defection
In 2020, after spending half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he may possess the secret to which nation prevails in the global AI race.
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