Upon look back on the previous year, a selection of remarkable feature-length stories emerges. Such accounts probe complex themes including political intrigue and scientific revelations to profoundly personal journeys.
The Mysterious Author and the Soul of a Country
A certain Russian novelist became known in the post-Soviet era with scathing critiques on power. Although numerous of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or left the country, he still move vast numbers of copies. It prompts a pressing question: Has he turned into an defender for the regime?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Horrific Civil War
The story of Mustafa, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his only route to escape prison was to join the government forces. Following fourteen years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's fighters might still put him in mortal danger.
A Fierce Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The unearthing of ancient remains in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically changing the narrative of our human race. Yet, a faction was convinced. The ensuing intense argument has taken over the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The UK Sect That Operated in the Open
Philippa Barnes was only a child when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped uncover the disturbing extent of exploitation it had perpetrated.
A Statesman's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights
Many followers expected that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the UK's commitment to human rights. However, the performance over the first year in office has been strikingly ambiguous.
Breaking a Nation's Identity
A documentary featuring a remorseful master criminal as she records corrupt clients with hidden cameras asks difficult queries: Is she really a new person, and is the director's own motives?
A Person Who Remediates the UK's Most Difficult Scenes
From murder scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has encountered – and cleaned – everything. In their most challenging times, families rely on him to bring back order.
Will an Renowned Museum Survive an "Omni-Crisis"?
Beset by restitution claims, precarious finances and the discovery of an insider theft, the UK's number one cultural institution is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Is it possible to repair its standing?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Severe Pregnancy
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has long lacked an effective medical end – until perhaps now.
The Legacy of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A violent fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideas shape the uppermost echelons of the state.
The British Professional With a Dishonest Side
With his brilliant intellect and sterling background, it's no surprise that wealthy individuals entrusted him with their assets. Then they started to get uneasy.
A Small State That Became the World's Diplomatic Capital
An astonishingly wealthy country has transformed into a major actor on the international scene, attempting to mediate some of the most complex disputes. What are behind this unprecedented role?
An Inside Look at a Leader Preparing for International Battle
Extremely unpopular at home, the French leader relishes the international arena, where he presents himself as the statesman most equipped to handle a certain sitting American leader. Seven years after their previous meeting, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for the fray.
Inside the Court Case of a Tragic 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 infant?
An Dismantling of a Global Development Agency: Far From Universal Regret
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US development organization, many around the globe were surprised. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was far from unexpected.
The Shocking Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Mothers
When details about a scientific experiment in the 1960s came to light, there was widespread shock. But the exact truth of the procedures is still partially unclear.
A "Master" of the Online Economy
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and distributed vast sums of cash to selected participants. But are these videos simply very clever entertainment – or acts of artistic genius?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Rising Ocean
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's people is facing the prospect that their home may soon cease to exist. The pressing question is: To where are they going to go?
A Heartbreaking Story of Youth Destitution
As I encountered a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his life could improve. I was tragically mistaken.
A Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Move
In 2020, after living decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he might possess the key to who prevails in the worldwide AI race.
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