As we look back on the past year, a curated list of outstanding feature-length stories emerges. These pieces explore complex subjects ranging from geopolitical machinations and historical revelations to profoundly personal sagas.
A Mysterious Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Nation
Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the 1990s with scathing satires on autocratic rule. Although numerous of his writer peers have faced suppression or left the nation, he still sell vast numbers of copies. It prompts a key question: Has he turned into an defender for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Civil War
The account of a young man, who at 18 was told that his only way out of incarceration was to join the regime forces. After fourteen years, his history as one of Assad's soldiers may now get him killed.
The Fierce Dispute Over Our Ancient Beginnings
The unearthing of ancient bones in the Djurab sands in 2001 was heralded as fundamentally rewriting the history of our human race. However, not everyone was persuaded. The subsequent intense controversy has dominated the careers of researchers ever since.
The UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
One woman was only a young girl when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped uncover the shocking breadth of mistreatment it had carried out.
A Prime Minister's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights
A great many voters expected that the former human rights lawyer would renew the Britain's commitment to human rights. But, the record over the first year in office has been strikingly ambiguous.
Breaking a Country's Self-Image
A documentary following a repentant master criminal as she ensnares unscrupulous clients with covert recording asks thorny questions: Is she genuinely a new person, and what are the director's true motives?
The Man Who Cleans Britain's Most Traumatic Stains
From crime scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has seen – and restored – everything. In their most challenging times, individuals turn to him to restore order.
Will an Famous Institution Survive an "Perfect Storm"?
Beset by restitution claims, strained finances and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's number one museum is in a major crisis. The question remains: Can it salvage its standing?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Suffering of Extreme Condition
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries lacked an consistent medical remedy – until potentially now.
A Legacy of Radicalism in Modern Government
A violent extremist and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideas permeate the uppermost echelons of the state.
The English Professional With a Crooked Secret
With his keen intellect and impeccable reputation, it's little wonder that affluent clients trusted him with their wealth. Then they started to become uneasy.
A Tiny State That Became the World's Diplomatic Hub
An extremely rich country has transformed into a key force on the international scene, attempting to mediate some of the most intractable conflicts. What are driving this unprecedented project?
A Inside Look at a Leader Gearing Up for International Battle
Extremely disliked at home, the French leader relishes the international arena, where he projects himself as the leader best placed to deal with a certain sitting American leader. 7 years after their last meeting, a writer joined him as he prepared for battle.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their newborn infant?
An Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Far From Universal Regret
When actions were made to dismantle a prominent development organization, many around the world were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was far from unforeseen.
A Unethical Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Women
When details about a medical experiment in the sixties came to light, there was immense outrage. But the exact truth of the procedures is still partially contested.
A "Master" of the Attention Economy
He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and distributed enormous sums of cash to selected participants. But are these stunts simply incredibly clever clickbait – or acts of avant garde genius?
Life in a Nation Endangered by the Rising Ocean
With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's people is confronting the reality that their homeland may in the near future become uninhabitable. The pressing issue is: To where are they supposed to go?
A Sorrowful Story of Youth Homelessness
When I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. Even then believed his life might improve. I was devastatingly mistaken.
The International AI Competition and a Crucial Move
In 2020, after living half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he could possess the key to which nation wins the worldwide AI race.
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