While we look back on the past year, a curated list of exceptional feature-length pieces stands out. These accounts probe multifaceted subjects from geopolitical machinations and scientific revelations to deeply personal stories.
The Puzzling Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Country
Victor Pelevin gained prominence in the 1990s with sharp critiques on power. Whereas numerous of his literary contemporaries have encountered censorship or fled the nation, he still sell vast numbers of copies. This poses a pertinent question: Has the author turned into an supporter for the Kremlin?
Endurance and Collaboration in the Syrian Brutal Conflict
The story of a young man, who at 18 was informed that his only path to escape incarceration was to enlist in the government forces. Following 14 years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers may now put him in mortal danger.
The Fierce Feud Over Our Earliest Origins
The discovery of ancient remains in the Djurab sands in 2001 was heralded as fundamentally re-writing the story of our species. However, not everyone was convinced. The subsequent intense controversy has dominated the lives of researchers ever since.
A UK Religious Group That Operated in the Open
One woman was only a young girl when her household joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the disturbing extent of abuse it had committed.
A Prime Minister's Curious Stance on International Law
Numerous followers hoped that the former human rights lawyer would renew the Britain's commitment to international law. Yet, the performance over the past year has been curiously mixed.
Challenging a Country's Identity
A film featuring a remorseful master criminal as she sets up unscrupulous clients with covert recording poses thorny questions: Is she genuinely changed, and is the filmmaker's own motives?
The Person Who Remediates the UK's Darkest Stains
From murder scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has encountered – and cleaned – it all. In their stickiest times, people rely on him to bring back order.
Will an Famous Institution Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Plagued by debates over its collection, difficult funding and the discovery of an insider theft, the UK's premier museum is in a major crisis. The question remains: Can it restore its legacy?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Suffering of Severe Condition
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries been without an reliable treatment solution – up until perhaps now.
A Ghost of Extremism in Modern Government
A violent extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his ideas shape the uppermost levels of government.
The British Professional With a Fraudulent Secret
With his brilliant intellect and sterling background, it's little wonder that affluent individuals entrusted him with their assets. Then they started to get uneasy.
The Small Nation That Emerged as the World's Mediation Hub
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a significant force on the world stage, attempting to solve some of the most intractable disputes. Which factors are driving this ambitious role?
An Close-Up View at a President Gearing Up for International Summitry
Deeply disliked at home, the French leader enjoys the world arena, where he projects himself as the leader most equipped to manage a particular former US president. Seven years after their last encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he readied himself for the fray.
Inside the Trial of a Tragic Story
What led to the child of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with killing their two-week-old infant?
An End of a Major Aid Organization: Far From Widespread Mourning
When actions were made to drastically cut a prominent aid agency, many around the globe were surprised. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest disappointment was not unexpected.
A Shocking 1960s Experiment on Indian Women
When information about a medical study in the sixties came to light, there was widespread shock. But the full truth of the events is still partially shrouded.
A "Genius" of the Online Economy
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and showered vast sums of cash to lucky participants. But are these stunts simply very savvy clickbait – or works of avant garde brilliance?
Existence in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's people is facing the prospect that their islands may in the near future become uninhabitable. The critical issue is: To where are they going to relocate?
A Tragic Story of Youth Destitution
When I met Craig he was 13 and homeless. Even then believed his life could turn around. That hope was devastatingly mistaken.
The Global AI Competition and a Crucial Defection
In the recent past, after living half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Now, he might possess the key to who wins the global AI race.
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