As we reflect on the year gone by, a curated list of outstanding feature-length pieces emerges. These narratives explore multifaceted subjects ranging from political machinations and historical discoveries to profoundly human stories.
A Puzzling Writer and the Conscience of a Country
A certain Russian novelist became known in the nineties with sharp critiques on authoritarianism. While many of his literary contemporaries have faced censorship or left the country, he continues to move millions of copies. It poses a key question: Has he evolved into an apologist for the establishment?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Conflict
The account of Mustafa, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only route to escape prison was to enlist in the regime forces. After 14 years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers might still cost him his life.
A Fierce Argument Over Our Earliest Origins
The finding of ancient remains in the Djurab sands in 2001 was heralded as radically changing the narrative of our species. However, a faction was persuaded. The resulting intense controversy has consumed the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A British Religious Group That Hid in the Open
Philippa Barnes was only a child when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped expose the appalling breadth of exploitation it had perpetrated.
The Prime Minister's Unexpected Record on Human Rights
A great many voters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would restore the the nation's commitment to human rights. Yet, the performance over the first year in office has been curiously inconsistent.
Breaking a Nation's Self-Image
A film tracking a repentant fraudster as she sets up corrupt clients with covert recording asks complex queries: Is this person truly changed, and what are the director's true intentions?
The Man Who Remediates Britain's Most Difficult Scenes
From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and restored – it all. In their most challenging hours, people depend on him to bring back order.
Can an Iconic Institution Survive an "Omni-Crisis"?
Beset by restitution claims, precarious funding and the revelation of an internal thief, the UK's number one museum is in deep trouble. The question remains: Can it restore its reputation?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Agony of Severe Pregnancy
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries been without an consistent medical solution – up until possibly now.
A Legacy of Extremism in Modern Government
A militant extremist and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his ideas permeate the highest echelons of the state.
The English Professional With a Dishonest Secret
With his keen intellect and impeccable reputation, it's no surprise that high-net-worth clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to become uneasy.
The Small Nation That Became the World's Mediation Center
An astonishingly wealthy country has transformed into a major player on the world stage, striving to mediate some of the most long-standing disputes. Which factors are fueling this unprecedented endeavor?
A Inside Look at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Battle
Extremely disliked at domestically, the French leader relishes the international stage, where he projects himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to deal with a particular former US president. 7 years after their previous meeting, a writer joined him as he readied himself for the fray.
Inside the Court Case of a Tragic Case
What led to the child of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with the death of their two-week-old infant?
An Dismantling of a Major Development Agency: Far From Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to dismantle a prominent development organization, many around the world were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest betrayal was far from unexpected.
The Shocking 1960s Experiment on Indian Women
When details about a medical experiment in the sixties became public, there was widespread shock. But the full nature of the procedures is still somewhat shrouded.
The "Master" of the Attention Age
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and showered enormous sums of money to selected participants. But are these videos simply very savvy clickbait – or works of avant garde brilliance?
Existence in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Ocean
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's residents is facing the reality that their home may soon become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: To where are they supposed to go?
A Tragic Case of Childhood Homelessness
When I met Craig he was thirteen and without a home. Even then believed his situation might turn around. That hope was sadly wrong.
A Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Crucial Move
In the recent past, after spending half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he could hold the secret to which nation prevails in the worldwide AI race.
The most impactful stories
