As we look back on the past year, a assortment of exceptional feature-length pieces emerges. These accounts explore multifaceted themes from political machinations and scientific revelations to profoundly personal journeys.
The Enigmatic Author and the Soul of a Nation
Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the nineties with sharp satires on authoritarianism. While many of his literary contemporaries have faced censorship or fled the nation, he continues to sell millions of books. This prompts a key question: Has he turned into an apologist for the establishment?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Conflict
The tale of a young man, who at 18 was told that his sole path to escape prison was to join the regime forces. Following fourteen long years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers may now get him killed.
A Acrimonious Dispute Over Our Earliest Origins
The discovery of fossilised remains in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was heralded as radically re-writing the narrative of our species. However, some scholars was in agreement. The ensuing intense argument has consumed the careers of researchers ever since.
A UK Religious Group That Hid in the Open
One woman was just a child when her family joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in uncover the appalling extent of exploitation it had committed.
The Leader's Curious Record on International Law
Many followers anticipated that the prime minister would reaffirm the UK's dedication to international law. However, the record over the first year in office has been strikingly mixed.
Breaking a Country's Identity
A film tracking a repentant master criminal as she ensnares corrupt individuals with hidden cameras poses thorny queries: Is she truly a new person, and is the filmmaker's true motives?
The Person Who Cleans Britain's Most Difficult Scenes
From murder scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has witnessed – and dealt with – everything. In their darkest times, individuals depend on him to restore order.
Can an Renowned Museum Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Beset by colonial controversy, strained funding and the exposure of an insider theft, the UK's leading cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Is it possible to salvage its legacy?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Torture of Severe Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an consistent medical end – up until possibly now.
The Legacy of Radicalism in Contemporary Government
A violent fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his ideas permeate the highest echelons of government.
An British Professional With a Dishonest Secret
With his sharp mind and flawless background, it's understandable that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their fortunes. Then they began to get suspicious.
The Tiny Nation That Became the World's Mediation Hub
An incredibly rich Gulf state has risen as a key player on the international scene, working to solve some of the most complex disputes. Which factors are behind this ambitious endeavor?
A Close-Up Look at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Battle
Deeply disliked at home, President Macron enjoys the international stage, where he projects himself as the leader most equipped to handle a certain former US president. Seven years after their last meeting, a writer joined him as he readied himself for the summit.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the child of an wealthy family end up at the a major court with her companion, charged with the death of their newborn infant?
An Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Not Universal Mourning
When efforts were made to dismantle a prominent development organization, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest letdown was not unforeseen.
A Unethical 1960s Experiment on Indian Women
When details about a scientific study in the 1960s were revealed, there was immense shock. But the precise truth of the procedures is still partially contested.
A "Genius" of the Attention Economy
He's endured 24 hours in slime, two days buried alive – and showered vast amounts of money to lucky contestants. But are these videos simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or acts of avant garde genius?
Existence in a Country Threatened by the Rising Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is confronting the prospect that their islands may in the near future become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: To where are they supposed to relocate?
A Sorrowful Story of Childhood Homelessness
When I encountered Craig he was 13 and without a home. I still hoped his situation could improve. That hope was sadly misplaced.
The International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Defection
In 2020, after living half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to China. Today, he could hold the secret to who wins the global AI race.
The most impactful stories
