DW Documentaries
Season 2021
Exciting stories on a wide variety of topics from around the globe: DW brings viewers background reports from the worlds of politics, business, science, culture, nature, history, lifestyle and sport.
Where to Watch Season 2021
118 Episodes
- Antarctica: A message from another planetE1
Antarctica: A message from another planetThe world's major powers agree: the resources of Antarctica should be exploited peacefully. They have promised to promote peace and scientific research in Antarctica, and to protect its environment. But is this spirit real, or just a lot of talk? - Blowguns vs Bulldozers - The Last Nomads of Sarawak
E2Blowguns vs Bulldozers - The Last Nomads of SarawakPeng Megut is one of the last forest nomads who still carry a blowgun as they roam the jungle. Peng and a number of men from his tribe are defending their community against a palm-oil plantation that they believe has trespassed on their land. Until just a few years ago, this region was home to one of the oldest primeval forests in the world. It covered an area that was half the size of Germany. Then timber companies started clear-cutting trees, and destroyed 90-percent of the forest. Forty tribes and ethnic groups, including the Penan, live in what's left. The Penan have resisted adopting a "modern" lifestyle longer than any other indigenous tribe in Borneo. They call their home "Tong Tana" -- which means both "forest" and "world." The woodland is a central component of the Penan's identity. It is the final resting place of their ancestors, and represents the heart of their spirituality, culture, and history. The tribe's existence is sustainable, and the people live in harmony with nature. They hunt for food -- and the forest supplies all their other needs, as well. But since the mid-20th century, the lives of the Penan have changed radically. They still live in the jungle, but most of them have now moved into villages. - What did the Big Bang sound like?
E3What did the Big Bang sound like?A milestone in physics: In 2015, scientists proved the existence of gravitational waves. These waves travel billions of light-years through space, eventually reaching Earth and bringing us insights that were previously unattainable. - The Forest RescuersE4
The Forest RescuersTwo-and-a-half centuries ago, most of Europe's woodlands were healthy. But those days are long gone. Across the continent, this habitat that stores water, restores the atmosphere, and hosts countless species of flora and fauna is now threatened. The documentary tells the story of people committed to preserving the last pockets of primeval forest and woodland in Europe. It follows a group that tends Lübeck's city forest and works with researchers to examine how woods fare when left to themselves. The journey moves on to Lapland, where the indigenous Sami people are fighting to stop the paper industry from clear-cutting. The reindeer herders need the forest because their livestock eat the lichen that grows on the trees. The challenge they face is great, as the booming mail-order business drives up demand for wood used to make cardboard packaging. From there it's off to the Massif Central, where a German-French couple is fighting to improve a forest economy plagued by clear-cutting and monoculture. Together with 130 others they have bought up woodlands and are managing them ecologically. Yet wood is valuable and often prompts greed. In Eastern Europe, corruption and violence have led to the murder of six foresters in Romania in the last year alone. What is being done to stop such crime? - Who were the neanderthals?E5
Who were the neanderthals?Long before Homo sapiens populated the earth, the Neanderthals lived in Eurasia. Now, paleoanthropologists in England and France are using new archeological methods to shed light on some previously unexplained Neanderthal mysteries. In an age clouded by the mists of time, the first early humans colonized the Eurasian continent. They settled on land that had only recently been covered by glaciers. This species, called Neanderthals, died out about 30,000 years ago -- but at one time, they formed the largest group in an area that stretched from northern France to the Belgian coast and from the Channel Islands to southern England. During the last Ice Age, the North Sea was frozen over -- and the English Channel was a small river that could easily be crossed on foot. The Neanderthals lived in close harmony with their perpetually changing environment. They had everything they needed to survive: the meat of prey animals, edible wild plants, water and wood for cooking and heating. How did these early humans develop over almost 300,000 years? What were their lives like before they became extinct? Our documentary is based on the latest research. We investigate various populations of Neanderthals, and visit archaeological sites in northern France, southern England, and on the island of Jersey. Renowned researchers such as the British paleoanthropologist Chris Stringer and his French colleague Ludovic Slimak describe how the Neanderthals lived, and discuss their cognitive abilities. Was this species capable of structured thinking? Did they have cultures, languages, and societies? How intelligent were they, and what sort of adaptive strategies kept them alive for 300,000 years? How similar were they to modern-day humans? - Profit or Life? - The Power of the Pharmaceutical Companies
E10Profit or Life? - The Power of the Pharmaceutical CompaniesHow much is a human life worth? An innovative cancer therapy promises to save lives. But it is extremely expensive. Will the insurance companies pay for it? What is the manufacturer's return on investment? And do lobbyists drive up prices? - Helping rape survivors in the DRC
E13Helping rape survivors in the DRCThe Democratic Republic of Congo has been described as the ‘rape capital of the world.’ Gynecologist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege has been fighting for years to help rape survivors. German doctor Gisela Schneider goes to visit him. - Coronavirus: How the pandemic is changing globalization
E14Coronavirus: How the pandemic is changing globalizationAround the world, pandemic-related lockdowns have hit our globalized economy hard. Supply-chains have been disrupted, industries crippled. The Coronavirus has laid bare the risks of global interconnectedness. Is the crisis the beginning of the end of globalization? - Maldives - Fighting Back the Tides of Trash
E16Maldives - Fighting Back the Tides of TrashThilafushi, an island of floating rubbish island in the Maldives, grows by a square meter a day. But diving instructor Shaahina Ali is trying to slow that growth by recycling and using floating barriers to hold back the rising seas. - Electricity to Go - Batteries for a Low Carbon Future
E19Electricity to Go - Batteries for a Low Carbon FutureEveryone needs portable power for smart phones, robot lawnmowers, kitchen scales and e-bikes. So it's no wonder that the 2019 Nobel Prize for Chemistry went to the inventor of rechargeable, lithium-ion batteries. - High-speed Internet from Outer Space
E20High-speed Internet from Outer SpaceThe entire globe can be provided with affordable high-speed Internet from satellites in space. These newly developed mini-satellites in a low-earth orbit as well as powerful antennas and signal processing chips make this possible. - They called them "The children of shame"
E21They called them "The children of shame"After World War I, relationships between French occupation troops and German women were banned. But they happened anyway, and liaisons involving black soldiers produced a number of mixed-race children. Many were later persecuted by the Nazis. - Germany's car industry: Powered by politics?
E22Germany's car industry: Powered by politics?The German automotive industry has long played a key role in the country's prosperity. It employs hundreds of thousands and enjoys cozy relationships with politicians. But the COVID-19 crisis threw a wrench in the works. What’s next? - Rough Ride - The cruelty of animal transports
E25Rough Ride - The cruelty of animal transportsEvery year, thousands of cattle are exported to countries outside the EU. It’s often a harrowing ordeal. Activists from the Animal Welfare Foundation argue that conditions in these transports breach European law. - Extremism and Violence - What Children Share Online
E26Extremism and Violence - What Children Share OnlineViolent, antisemitic and pornographic content is being increasingly shared by children. It’s a growing problem in schools, but hardly anyone is willing to talk openly about it. What can be done to protect children and teenagers? - Martin guitars: 200 years of excellence
E27Martin guitars: 200 years of excellenceCountless music stars have used Martin guitars to play their way to fame. These legendary instruments originated in the town of Markneukirchen in Germany's Vogtland region in the early 1800s, and they are still enormously popular today. - A deadly legacy - Chemical weapons in Germany
E28A deadly legacy - Chemical weapons in GermanyTabun, sarin, phosgene and mustard gas are chemical warfare agents invented to kill. They were carelessly disposed of after Germany lost two world wars. Still buried or underwater in many places, they have become a public-health time bomb. - Lone wolf terrorism: How outsiders become assassins
E30Lone wolf terrorism: How outsiders become assassinsOn October 9, 2019, neo-Nazi Stephan Balliet set out on a killing spree. His target was the Jewish community in Halle in eastern Germany. A well-locked synagogue door prevented dozens of murders on the holiest day of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur. - Future Wars - and How to Prevent Them
E32Future Wars - and How to Prevent ThemThe world is entering a new era of warfare, with cyber and autonomous weapons taking center stage. These technologies are making militaries faster, smarter, more efficient. But if unchecked, they threaten to destabilize the world. - Jiyan -The forgotten victims of IS
E35Jiyan -The forgotten victims of ISNajlaa Matto is a Yazidi. As a young woman living in Iraq, she was abducted and enslaved by IS fighters. After she was freed, Najlaa went back to her home village and met other former slaves who told her about the ordeals they’d suffered. - Country living for beginners - Italy tackles rural exodus
E36Country living for beginners - Italy tackles rural exodusMore Italians are migrating to big cities, and every year around 200,000 leave to go abroad. Entire villages now stand empty. So small towns are providing incentives for incomers - like rent-free homes in Campania or one euro house prices in Sicily. - The Humboldt Forum - A palace for Berlin and the world?
E37The Humboldt Forum - A palace for Berlin and the world?A very German story has ended with the completion of the Humboldt Forum in a replica of Berlin’s former Royal Palace. The site - where the Kaiser once resided and the Palace of the Republic of Communist East Germany once stood - sparked controversy from the start. - China's Gateway to Europe - The New Silk Road, Part 1
E38China's Gateway to Europe - The New Silk Road, Part 1The "New Silk Road" is an enormous Chinese international development project. It's a trade network that involves Asia, Africa, and Europe -- and more than 70 countries are already involved. It may turn the old world order upside down. - Countdown during Lockdown - The Rocky Road to Tokyo
E43Countdown during Lockdown - The Rocky Road to TokyoPostponed by a year. Plagued by existential rumors. The Tokyo Olympics have had a rocky road, thus far. But what’s it like for the athletes? This film looks at how Olympic hopefuls experience Olympic-sized uncertainties, under the already strained circumstances of a global pandemic. - A passion for helping - Young Albanians defy Poverty
E44A passion for helping - Young Albanians defy PovertyArbër Hajdari has helped thousands of Albanian families escape poverty. Five years ago he set up the humanitarian organization Fundjavë Ndryshe to fight hardship in Albania. Now, around 12,000 volunteers work for the group. - The bridge of minor miracles: Everyday life in Nairobi
E47The bridge of minor miracles: Everyday life in NairobiPart of the main artery of Kenya's capital, Nairobi, this bridge is many things to many people. Vegetables, a new bed, a plate of cheap soup - even a new hairstyle: You can get all that, and more, on the bridge. But now, it is slated for demolition. - DocFilm - Flash Floods in Europe - The Traumatic Aftermath
E48DocFilm - Flash Floods in Europe - The Traumatic AftermathTV crews were quick to visit the areas in western Europe devastated by flooding in July. As they talked to victims and helpers, the shocking scale of the tragedy became clear to viewers. At least 170 people lost their lives. - Israel: Choosing prison over the military
E49Israel: Choosing prison over the militaryLike all Israeli youth, Atalya was expected to become a soldier. Unlike most, she questioned the practices of her country's military, and was determined to challenge this rite of passage. She refused to do military duty and was imprisoned. - The Stasi and the Berlin Wall
E50The Stasi and the Berlin WallFor one group, at least, the erection of the Berlin Wall on August 13, 1961 was a stroke of luck. Over the following decades, the Wall would be the lifeblood of the East German secret police, known as the Stasi. By the time the Wall fell, in 1989, thousands of Stasi agents were employed with a single goal. - The Expanding Desert - Climate Change in Romania
E51The Expanding Desert - Climate Change in RomaniaSand is overrunning Oltenia, a historical region in southern Romania. It’s getting hotter and drier, with sandstorms now reaching all the way to Bucharest. As they try to prevent the worst, environmentalists are turning to reforestation. - Greed – A fatal desire (2)
E54Greed – A fatal desire (2)Some call it a useful dowry of evolution, others a fault in the human genetic make-up: The old mortal sin Greed seems to be more ubiquitous than ever. Why cannot people ever get enough, where is this self-indulgence leading - and are there any ways out of this vicious circle of gratification? - More Sense, Less Greed - Rethinking Capitalism
E55More Sense, Less Greed - Rethinking CapitalismMore and more entrepreneurs are thinking beyond their own personal wealth. In what is known as the "Purpose Movement," company bosses aim to put profits to good use, while rethinking the idea of corporate ownership. - The children of 9/11 - Growing up in the shadow of terror
E59The children of 9/11 - Growing up in the shadow of terrorThe attacks of September 11, 2001, changed the lives of many children and young people dramatically. But they are committed to overcoming their harrowing experiences -- despite the shadow the Twin Towers cast over their lives. - Rainforest radio - The women broadcasters fighting exploitation
E60Rainforest radio - The women broadcasters fighting exploitationIn the fight to save their homeland, three brave Ecuadorian women are taking to the airwaves. Their small radio station has become a bastion in the struggle against exploitation of the rainforest. - Impatient, dissatisfied, divided? Germans at the end of Merkel's grand coalition
E61Impatient, dissatisfied, divided? Germans at the end of Merkel's grand coalitionAfter 16 years of Angela Merkel's leadership, the country feels tired. Many believe the grand coalition dragged its feet on reforms and failed to resolve social conflicts. Fears of a schism in society are growing. - Child slavery in Myanmar
E62Child slavery in MyanmarChild labor is common in Myanmar. Impoverished families are often faced with the hard choice of exploiting or abandoning their children. Some underage workers are even adopted by their employers, leaving them exposed to physical and emotional abuse. - Dying for gold - The Philippines' illegal treasure mines
E67Dying for gold - The Philippines' illegal treasure minesIn the mines of Paracale, workers search for gold using the world's most dangerous methods. Diving into flooded underground caves, they constantly risk their lives. The business is illegal. But for many, it is the only way they can earn money. - Poisoned land? - The rural rise of Parkinson's
E68Poisoned land? - The rural rise of Parkinson'sAround the world, more and more people are developing Parkinson's disease. Many of those affected have chosen a supposedly healthy life among orchards or vineyards in the countryside. Is the disease related to the use of pesticides? - Oil promises - Ghana’s dreams of black gold
E70Oil promises - Ghana’s dreams of black goldWhen oil was discovered in Ghana in 2007, the country began to dream big. It dreamed that the ‘black gold’ would bring economic upswing and long-awaited prosperity to its nation. But what happens when dreams and globalization meet? - The Brandenburg Gate - History of a Symbol
E71The Brandenburg Gate - History of a SymbolMore than just a landmark in Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate is a national symbol. Like no other building, it stands for Germany’s division and reunification. But while everyone recognizes the Brandenburg Gate, hardly anyone knows much about it. - Play, score, learn - How games help in everyday life
E73Play, score, learn - How games help in everyday lifeMore than just pastimes, games have long played a role in shaping the world. Today, "gamification" is more prominent than ever, as creative people develop games to help heal the sick, prevent industrial accidents and enable kids to do well in school. - Pandora's Box - Taboo menstruation
E74Pandora's Box - Taboo menstruationIn many places, menstruation is still taboo, and attitudes towards it have a social and political impact on gender equality. Pandora's Box is produced and directed by a primarily female crew. It takes us on a global journey, including India, Kenya, the UK and North America, to explore the subjugation of people who menstruate. - Syndrome K - The imaginary disease that saved lives
E75Syndrome K - The imaginary disease that saved lives"Syndrome K" might be the only deadly disease that ever saved lives. Despite the fact that it never really existed. This film tells the story of three courageous Roman Catholic doctors who saved Jewish lives at a hospital in Rome by means of a convincing lie. - Mafia colony East Germany - German unity’s blind spot
E76Mafia colony East Germany - German unity’s blind spotAfter the fall of the Berlin Wall, the former East opened up - and the Italian Mafia moved in. In the decades since, they have built up a criminal network in the former East Germany. This investigative documentary traces their origins back 30 years. - Afrobeats - Nigeria's Groove Moves the World
E79Afrobeats - Nigeria's Groove Moves the WorldNiniola, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido: In dance clubs around the world, musicians from Africa are stars. And no wonder - Afrobeats, which pairs West African musical elements with hip-hop, dancehall or house music, is great to dance to. - Transylvania - The insular world of the Gábor
E82Transylvania - The insular world of the GáborFor 500 years, Transylvania’s Gábor people have held onto their values and rituals. This film explores the insular world of the Gábor Roma, and asks whether they can maintain their traditional lives in a globalized world. - The Billion-Euro Heist - A state prosecutor hunts the tax mafia
E84The Billion-Euro Heist - A state prosecutor hunts the tax mafiaInsiders say it’s like something out of a thriller movie. The players in the "Cum-Ex" tax scandal are powerful bankers, executives, top-tier lawyers, and even, perhaps, German politicians...along with the state prosecutor who’s on their trail. - Goods to Paradise - Island life in the Torres Strait
E85Goods to Paradise - Island life in the Torres StraitIt’s a remote paradise between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Only a few thousand people live on the islands in the Torres Strait. They depend on a supply ship that sails to their isolated archipelago once a week. - India's Nomads - The Forgotten World of the Gadia Lohar
E87India's Nomads - The Forgotten World of the Gadia LoharThe Gadia Lohar were once the respected blacksmiths who forged weapons for India's kings. Despite their former fame, today the nomads are among the poorest of the country's poor and ostracized by much of Indian society. - Four Girls, Three Continents, One Mission - Part 1
E88Four Girls, Three Continents, One Mission - Part 1'Girls for Future' follows four girls as they fight for a better future. Aged between 11 and 14 years, they are all directly affected by environmental destruction - from air pollution to water shortage - and its consequences. - In the crosshairs of the state - Assault on civil society
E89In the crosshairs of the state - Assault on civil societyA wave of authoritarianism is churning from East to West and assailing civil society. Autocrats are threatening democracy, while their regimes portray NGOs as Trojan horses for foreign interference. - Four Girls, Three Continents, One Mission - Part 2: Girls for Future
E90Four Girls, Three Continents, One Mission - Part 2: Girls for Future‘Girls for Future’ follows four girls as they fight for a better future. Aged between 11 and 14 years, they are all directly affected by environmental destruction - from air pollution to water shortage - and its consequences. - The Other Man - F.W. de Klerk and the End of Apartheid
E92The Other Man - F.W. de Klerk and the End of ApartheidSouth Africa’s former president Frederik Willem de Klerk has died at the age of 85. As it’s last white minority leader he steered his country towards the end of apartheid - for which De Klerk and Nelson Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize. - Island of the White Antelope - Abu Dhabi’s natural oasis
E94Island of the White Antelope - Abu Dhabi’s natural oasisThe Arabian oryx is a beautiful, almost luminously white antelope. But, after being over-hunted by humans in the 20th century, it only narrowly escaped extinction. Today, on the desert island of Sir Bani Yas, the endangered animals find refuge. - Abused and forcibly assimilated - Canada’s indigenous peoples
E96Abused and forcibly assimilated - Canada’s indigenous peoplesBack then it was called assimilation. Now, it's recognized as cultural genocide. For generations, Indigenous families in Canada were forced to send their children to residential schools where their culture and language were eroded. - Soils at their limit - Chemical threats to bees and farmland
E101Soils at their limit - Chemical threats to bees and farmlandModern agriculture is designed to produce high yields. But it also depletes the soil. How do over-fertilization and pesticides impact the environment and humans? Are we poisoning our world and driving species to extinction? - Young, female and palestinian - Striving for independence
E102Young, female and palestinian - Striving for independence This film documents the lives of young Palestinian women in Palestine and Israel. They live in contexts dominated by men, surrounded by outdated gender roles. But step-by-step, these young women are shaping their own paths through life. - Lithium - The New Gold Rush in the Andes
E104Lithium - The New Gold Rush in the AndesHigh in the Andes mountains, mining companies are gearing up for the massive extraction of lithium -- the raw material of the future. Lithium batteries are used to power the electric vehicles that will play a key role in the new energy revolution. - Once upon a river - Cambodia’s Mekong crisis
E105Once upon a river - Cambodia’s Mekong crisisNew hydropower dams on the Mekong River are leaving fishing and farming communities high and dry. The dams provide clean electricity, but they also cause massive damage to Cambodia's plant and animal worlds. Will climate change make matters worse? - Asteroids - A new El Dorado in space?
E106Asteroids - A new El Dorado in space?Mining on asteroids sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but it could soon become a reality. Nations and powerful corporations already have plans for such ventures and are hard at work staking their claim to resources from space. - Slahi and his torturers - Life after Guantanamo
E108Slahi and his torturers - Life after GuantanamoThis documentary follows a former inmate of Guantanamo Bay as he searches for his tormentors. Once charged as a terrorist and twice exonerated, he seeks revenge in the most unexpected way: through forgiveness. - Legendary hotels: The Adlon in Berlin
E110Legendary hotels: The Adlon in BerlinBerlin’s Hotel Adlon has been one of Germany’s most renowned hotels for more than 100 years. It’s seen many a famous face walk through its doors, including Albert Einstein, Charlie Chaplin and Marlene Dietrich. It’s a hotel steeped in German history. - A Catastrophe in Court: The Eichmann TrialE111
A Catastrophe in Court: The Eichmann TrialAfter the end of World War Two, Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann lived a quiet life in Argentina. Until May of 1960, when the Israeli secret service Mossad abducted him and brought him to Israel, to stand trial. Known as the trial of the century, the case against the the former SS man was brought to court on April 11th, 1961. It attracted international attention: Adolf Eichmann was one of the people responsible for the murder of an estimated six million Jews and Sinti and Roma in Europe. As court witnesses, Holocaust survivors described the horrific crimes committed during the Nazi era. For most of the survivors who testified, this was the first time they had spoken out about what had happened to them. Their accounts of murder, torture and manslaughter were devastating. What impact did the trial have on the young state of Israel, and on the Federal Republic of Germany? How did the public disclosure of Nazi crimes change the relationship between the two states? - Legendary Hotels: The Beau-Rivage in Geneva
E112Legendary Hotels: The Beau-Rivage in GenevaWith its stunning view of Lake Geneva, the hotel has attracted actors from Roger Moore to Angelina Jolie, and played host to political luminaries like Kofi Annan, Charles de Gaulle and the Dalai Lama. Political history has been made here, too: In 1898, the Empress "Sisi" of Austria was stabbed to death by an anarchist at the Beau-Rivage. Nearly a hundred years later, in 1987, the German politician Uwe Barschel was discovered dead here, in a bathtub. Family-run for generations, the hotel is impressive not just for its size, but also for its discretion. Now, director Jacques Mayer uses interviews, archival film and rarely seen photographs to vividly chronicle some of the most fateful years of the Beau-Rivage. - The True Story of Santa ClausE115
The True Story of Santa ClausSanta Claus is a global icon. But where did this friendly old man in a red suit who brings gifts for children actually come from? How could Santa become a central figure of our consumer society? Everyone knows Santa Claus, but few know much about his origins. This film changes that, by taking us back to the legend of Saint Nicholas of Myra, born ca. 270 AD in Lycia, in what is now Turkey. Said to be a miracle worker, after his death Saint Nicholas of Myra’s remains made their way to Italy and France. He became the patron saint of various European cities, as well as the protector of children. Legend has it that every year, on December 6, he paraded through the streets handing out candy and gifts to good children. In the Netherlands, he was called Sinter Klaas. Dutch immigrants eventually brought him with them, to America. In the 19th century, two poets and a cartoonist in New Amsterdam (later known as New York City) created the modern Santa Claus. These days, Santa Claus has made his wa - Legendary Hotels: Le Bristol in ParisE117
Legendary Hotels: Le Bristol in ParisGrand hotels are places full of history, triumph and tragedy. During the World War II, "Le Bristol" was one of the few Paris hotels the Nazis did not take over during the occupation. That saved the life of a Jewish architect who found refuge there. - Taiwan - A Laboratory for Democracy in the Shadow of ChinaE118
Taiwan - A Laboratory for Democracy in the Shadow of ChinaFor China, it's a renegade province that must be brought into line. The Taiwanese, on the other hand, see themselves as a legitimate, independent, democratic state. For Taiwan, the stakes are high. After watching how Hong Kong was "brought into line" by China, Taiwan has been all the more determined to assert itself as a democracy. But it's not an easy path. As part of the Sunflower Movement in 2014, Taiwanese youth took to the streets to protest increased economic ties with China. Citizens have also been fighting for political transparency and more participation. Audrey Tang, Minister of State for Digital Affairs, wants to involve citizens as much as possible in the government's political decision-making. Meanwhile, the country is fighting fierce cyberattacks aimed at weakening its political institutions.
