Al Jazeera Documentaries
Season 2018
The Big Picture documents the full story behind the most pressing issues of our times. With a unique format, seamlessly mixing documentary filmmaking with informed panel discussion, we combine the best of strong, interview-based storytelling and incisive investigation to offer unparalleled analysis. The Big Picture sheds new light on the major issues of the present.
Where to Watch Season 2018
7 Episodes
- The Battle for Venezuela
E1The Battle for VenezuelaVenezuela is gripped by crisis. Economic collapse and political meltdown have devastated a country that boasts the world’s largest oil reserves. Latin America’s once ‘model democracy’ now struggles to maintain order and feed a divided people. But the seeds of its current demise were sewn a century ago, when the events of its formative years ensured that the fate of Venezuela would be written in oil. The Big Picture: The Battle for Venezuela examines how the exploitation of oil created the modern nation of Venezuela and, how the oil industry helped create a divided society as well as endemic inequality. We chart the impact of industrialisation and the flux between dictatorships and democracy, highlighting the legacies of prominent leaders to shed contextual light on the troubles afflicting Venezuela today. - Dreaming of Vincent: China's Copy Artists
E2Dreaming of Vincent: China's Copy ArtistsVincent van Gogh only sold a few paintings in his lifetime, but Chinese copy artist Zhao Xiaoyong has sold over 90,000 reproductions of the Dutch painter's masterpieces over the past 20 years. Born in a rural Chinese village, Zhao moved to Dafen Oil Painting Village in 1996, with thousands of other migrant workers and aspiring artists, who had been flocking to Dafen since the late 1980s to paint copies of iconic works for global export. He has long admired Van Gogh's work and feels a special connection to the artist's tragic life. After decades of studying the artist's paintings through photos, Zhao is invited to Amsterdam by his top client to see Van Gogh's original work. The trip is a shock and a revelation for Zhao and inspires him to pursue his own artistic expression, for as long as he can afford to do so. - Qatar: Beyond The Blockade
E3Qatar: Beyond The BlockadeOn June 5th, 2017, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt imposed a blockade on Qatar - closing their land, air and sea borders with it - accusing it of funding 'terrorism' and fomenting regional instability. The Saudi, Emirati and Bahraini governments told their citizens to return from Qatar. They also asked Qatari citizens who were visiting, studying or living in their respective countries, to leave for Qatar within 14 days. This diplomatic move left Qatar partially isolated - economically, politically and culturally. As this crisis continues without a solution, this film follows several people in Qatar to find out how they are facing up to life under blockade. - The Siege Of Qatar
E7The Siege Of QatarOn June 5, 2017, Bahrain, followed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut off all diplomatic ties with the state of Qatar. Accusing it of funding terrorism and fermenting regional instability, all land, air and sea links to the country were severed. National carriers declared they would be suspending flights to and from Qatar the following day, and those from Qatar were banned from even transiting through their countries. With the exception of Egypt, the blockading states recalled their own citizens and gave the Qataris residing and working in their countries 14 days to leave their territories. The bloc of four also closed their airspace to Qatari aircraft, leaving only a small corridor, funnelling all their planes in and out of the Arabian Gulf. At 1.30 pm the only land border was closed and Saudi Arabia stopped all movement of vehicles from its side. Trucks carrying food, raw materials, equipment and medicines could no longer cross into Qatar. All vessels destined to, or carrying the flag of Qatar would not be allowed to call at ports in the UAE. In less than 24 hours, Qatar was effectively cut off. The coordinated move by the four countries has caused the greatest rift in years, between some of the most powerful Arab states. And the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was unable to deescalate the situation. "The GCC was never intended to deal with an act of aggression between one of the constituent GCC members. This is unprecedented in the extent of it, the scope of it, how it took everybody by surprise," says Rory Miller, PH.D. Professor of Government, Georgetown University, Qatar. However, he says, in recent history there were many signs that Qatar was being targeted. "This current crisis is not an isolated incident. From 1995 up to the present day the dominant team in relations between Saudi Arabia the UAE and Qatar has been one where Saudi Arabia and the UAE has viewed Qatar as definitely the subordinate actor and the Qataris have refus - Up to the Last Drop – The Secret Water War in EuropeE10
Up to the Last Drop – The Secret Water War in EuropeIs water a commodity or a human right? Cities across Europe are fighting water privatisation. In 2010, water was officially recognised as a universal human right by the United Nations. However, the European Union has yet to do the same. The management of water has long been in the hands of private companies, but resistance to this profit-driven model has increased in Europe since 2000. Activists against water privatisation in Greece, Portugal and Ireland say that the EU applies pressure to privatise water services using the economic crisis as a pretext for the creation of a water market in Europe.