As we look back on the previous year, a curated list of outstanding feature-length pieces emerges. Such pieces probe complex subjects from geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to profoundly personal sagas.
A Enigmatic Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Nation
An author became known in the 1990s with scathing satires on power. Although several of his literary contemporaries have encountered censorship or fled the nation, he continues to sell millions of books. It poses a pressing question: Has he become an apologist for the establishment?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Horrific Civil War
The account of Mustafa, who at eighteen was informed that his only route out of prison was to join the regime military. Following fourteen long years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers may now put him in mortal danger.
The Bitter Argument Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The discovery of ancient bones in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was hailed as fundamentally rewriting the history of our human race. Yet, not everyone was in agreement. The subsequent bitter argument has consumed the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A British Religious Group That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was only a young girl when her family became part of the a religious community. As an adult, she helped reveal the disturbing scale of exploitation it had perpetrated.
The Leader's Puzzling Record on International Law
Numerous followers hoped that the former human rights lawyer would renew the Britain's commitment to human rights. Yet, the track record over the first year in office has been notably mixed.
Shattering a Country's Myth
A documentary featuring a remorseful con artist as she sets up unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras poses thorny queries: Is this person truly reformed, and is the filmmaker's own methods?
A Person Who Cleans the UK's Darkest Scenes
From homicide sites to whale blubber, Ben Giles has witnessed – and restored – everything. In their most challenging moments, people turn to him to bring back peace.
Can an Iconic Institution Endure an "Perfect Storm"?
Beset by debates over its collection, precarious funding and the exposure of an insider theft, the UK's premier museum is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Is it possible to repair its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Agony of Severe Pregnancy
Referred to as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this condition has for centuries lacked an reliable treatment end – until potentially now.
The Legacy of Radicalism in Modern Government
A violent fanatic and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his ideas shape the highest echelons of the state.
The British Professional With a Crooked Side
With his brilliant mind and impeccable credentials, it's understandable that high-net-worth clients entrusted him with their assets. Until they started to get uneasy.
A Small State That Became the Global Diplomatic Capital
An incredibly rich Gulf state has risen as a major force on the international scene, working to mediate some of the most intractable conflicts. What are fueling this ambitious project?
An Close-Up View at a President Gearing Up for International Battle
Extremely disliked at home, the French leader relishes the international arena, where he presents himself as the leader uniquely positioned to deal with a certain sitting American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a writer joined him as he readied himself for the summit.
Inside the Trial of a Tragic Case
How did the child of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with killing their newborn baby?
The End of a Global Development Agency: Not Universal Regret
When efforts were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent letdown was not unforeseen.
A Unethical 1960s Study on Indian Mothers
When details about a scientific experiment in the sixties became public, there was immense outrage. But the exact truth of the procedures remains somewhat unclear.
A "Mozart" of the Online Economy
He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and distributed vast sums of money to selected participants. But are these stunts simply incredibly clever entertainment – or works of daring genius?
Life in a Nation Threatened by the Rising Ocean
With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's people is facing the possibility that their home may soon become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: Where are they supposed to relocate?
A Sorrowful Story of Youth Homelessness
As I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. Even then believed his situation could change for the better. I was sadly wrong.
The Global AI Race and a Crucial Move
In 2020, after spending half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he may possess the key to who wins the global technological rivalry.
The finest narratives
