As we look back on the past year, a curated list of outstanding feature-length stories stands out. These narratives probe complex themes including geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to profoundly personal sagas.
The Enigmatic Novelist and the Soul of a Country
Victor Pelevin became known in the post-Soviet era with biting satires on power. While numerous of his literary contemporaries have encountered censorship or fled the country, he continues to move vast numbers of books. It prompts a pertinent question: Has the author turned into an apologist for the Kremlin?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Conflict
The story of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his only route out of incarceration was to join the government military. Following fourteen years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's fighters could still get him killed.
A Fierce Argument Over Our Earliest Origins
The unearthing of fossilised bones in the Chadian desert in 2001 was heralded as radically rewriting the narrative of our species. Yet, a faction was in agreement. The resulting intense argument has dominated the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A British Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a child when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in uncover the shocking extent of mistreatment it had committed.
A Statesman's Unexpected Record on International Law
A great many voters expected that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the Britain's commitment to human rights. But, the performance over the first year in office has been notably inconsistent.
Breaking a Nation's Myth
A film following a remorseful con artist as she sets up unscrupulous individuals with covert recording poses difficult queries: Is she genuinely a new person, and what are the filmmaker's own motives?
A Man Who Remediates Britain's Most Difficult Scenes
From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and restored – everything. In their darkest times, families depend on him to bring back normalcy.
Will an Famous Museum Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Burdened by restitution claims, precarious finances and the discovery of an internal thief, Britain's premier museum is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it repair its legacy?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this condition has long lacked an reliable medical remedy – until potentially now.
A Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A violent extremist and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. Now, his teachings permeate the very highest echelons of the state.
The British Professional With a Crooked Side
With his keen mind and impeccable credentials, it's no surprise that affluent clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get suspicious.
The Tiny Nation That Emerged as the Global Mediation Hub
An astonishingly wealthy country has risen as a significant force on the international scene, attempting to broker peace in some of the most intractable conflicts. What are behind this unprecedented project?
A Close-Up View at a President Preparing for International Battle
Deeply disliked at domestically, President Macron thrives on the international arena, where he projects himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to handle a particular sitting US president. Seven years after their previous meeting, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the fray.
Inside the Court Case of a Tragic Story
How did the child of an aristocrat end up at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old infant?
The End of a Major Development Organization: Not Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to wind down a prominent development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was not unexpected.
The Disturbing 1960s Study on Indian Mothers
When information about a scientific study in the 1960s became public, there was immense shock. But the full nature of the procedures is still somewhat unclear.
The "Mozart" of the Online Age
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and showered enormous amounts of money to lucky contestants. But are these stunts simply incredibly clever entertainment – or acts of daring genius?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is confronting the prospect that their homeland may in the near future become uninhabitable. The critical question is: To where are they going to go?
A Sorrowful Story of Youth Destitution
When I encountered a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his life might improve. That hope was sadly mistaken.
A International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Crucial Defection
In 2020, after living decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he might possess the secret to which nation prevails in the worldwide AI race.
The most impactful narratives
