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While we consider the previous year, a selection of outstanding feature-length pieces shines. These accounts probe complex subjects including geopolitical intrigue and historical discoveries to deeply personal sagas.

The Puzzling Writer and the Soul of a Nation

A certain Russian novelist rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with sharp satires on autocratic rule. Whereas several of his literary peers have faced suppression or left the nation, he still move millions of copies. This poses a key question: Has he evolved into an apologist for the establishment?

Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Brutal Conflict

The account of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his sole way to escape incarceration was to join the government military. After 14 years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers may still put him in mortal danger.

A Acrimonious Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Origins

The finding of ancient remains in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically rewriting the narrative of our human race. But, not everyone was in agreement. The resulting bitter scholarly debate has dominated the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.

A UK Cult That Operated in Plain Sight

One woman was only a young girl when her household joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in uncover the appalling scale of abuse it had perpetrated.

The Statesman's Puzzling Record on International Law

A great many followers hoped that the former human rights lawyer would restore the UK's commitment to international law. However, the performance over the first year in office has been curiously ambiguous.

Challenging a Country's Identity

A film tracking a repentant master criminal as she ensnares unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras poses difficult queries: Is this person truly reformed, and what are the director's true motives?

The Person Who Decontaminates Britain's Most Difficult Stains

From murder scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and restored – everything. In their darkest times, individuals turn to him to bring back peace.

Can an Renowned Institution Survive an "Perfect Storm"?

Beset by debates over its collection, precarious funding and the discovery of an internal thief, the UK's leading cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Can it restore its standing?

More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy

Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries lacked an effective treatment end – until possibly now.

A Spectre of Extremism in Modern Government

A violent fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. Now, his teachings shape the uppermost levels of the state.

An English Gentleman With a Crooked Secret

With his brilliant mind and flawless reputation, it's little wonder that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their fortunes. Until they started to get suspicious.

A Tiny State That Became the World's Mediation Capital

An astonishingly rich country has become a significant actor on the international scene, working to broker peace in some of the most long-standing disputes. Which factors are behind this unprecedented project?

An Inside View at a President Preparing for Global Summitry

Extremely unpopular at domestically, the French leader enjoys the international arena, where he projects himself as the statesman most equipped to deal with a particular sitting American leader. Seven years after their previous encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he readied himself for the summit.

Inside the Trial of a Tragic Story

What led to the child of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her companion, charged with killing their two-week-old baby?

The End of a Global Aid Organization: Not Widespread Mourning

When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest betrayal was far from unexpected.

A Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Women

When information about a scientific study in the sixties were revealed, there was immense outrage. But the precise nature of the procedures is still partially shrouded.

A "Mozart" of the Online Economy

He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and showered vast sums of cash to lucky participants. But are these videos simply incredibly clever entertainment – or works of daring brilliance?

Life in a Country Endangered by the Rising Ocean

With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's population is grappling with the prospect that their homeland may soon become uninhabitable. The critical question is: Where are they going to relocate?

A Tragic Story of Youth Homelessness

When I met Craig he was 13 and homeless. Even then believed his life might improve. That hope was devastatingly wrong.

The Global AI Race and a Pivotal Move

In the recent past, after spending decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he may possess the secret to which nation wins the worldwide technological rivalry.

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