From DW Documentary. Purdue Pharma earned billions with OxyContin. The company also triggered a race, as dozens of pharmaceutical companies rushed into the market. One was Insys, which sold fentanyl, a drug fifty times stronger than heroin. Profit was gained by any means necessary – from strippers seducing doctors to bribery, insurance fraud and massive…

From DW Documentary. They evacuate elderly and sick people, set up medical stations and organize escape routes. New structures of protection, security and dignity are emerging in Ukraine, while war shapes everyday life. All of Ukraine has been at war since Russia’s full-scale attack in February 2022. It is a war whose repercussions are inescapable.…

From DW Documentary. Muscles can do much more than just set our bodies in motion: regular muscle training has a positive impact on our overall health. This is because muscles work in a similar way to an endocrine organ: when activated, muscles release messenger substances called myokines, which directly influence our central organs such as…

From DW Documentary. Liberland is a country that doesn’t officially exist. A country that promises voluntary taxes and a lean state. It’s a libertarian utopia that’s finding more supporters worldwide. After the Yugoslav Wars, the border between Serbia and Croatia along the Danube river remained unresolved. Vit Jedlička, a former politician from the Czech Republic,…

From DW Documentary. There are around 1,500 known active volcanoes worldwide. A volcano is considered active if it has erupted in the last 10,000 years. Around 40 to 60 volcanoes erupt every year. The eruption of Mont Pelée on the Caribbean island of Martinique is considered the deadliest volcanic eruption of the 20th century. On…

From DW Documentary. When the sun goes down, India’s megacity’s most intense side comes to light. Queer subculture, everyday slum life and spiritual celebrity culture – Mumbai nightlife could hardly be more diverse. In the middle of it all is Zeesh, who uses drag and fashion to push visibility forward in a place where LGBTQ+…

From DW Documentary. On 3 February 2026, Said al-Islam al-Gaddafi was shot dead by four unknown gunmen in Zintan, Libya. This documentary was produced in 2023 and has not been updated for this reupload. It traces the turbulent life of the second son of the former Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi. In 2021, Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi…

From DW Documentary. The mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, is facing criminal charges. In defiance of President Viktor Orbán’s ban, he organized a Pride march in the city on 28 June 2025—the largest such event ever held in Hungary. A few months earlier, the government had further tightened its controversial so-called Child Protection Law, which…

From DW Documentary. Women around the world are working to break down outdated structures and empower one another. Initiatives in Germany and Ecuador are calling for equal rights in the workplace, self-determination, and financial independence for women. One of the women working for change is surgeon Katja Schlosser. The former head physician at Agaplesion Hospital…

From DW Documentary. The United States has a huge drug problem: cheap opioids, thousands of deaths. President Trump blames Latin American cartels. But it all began 30 years ago, quite legally, in the United States. The Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, brought the prescription painkiller OxyContin – containing the highly potent opioid oxycodone –…

From DW Documentary. The Gulag was a vast system of forced labor camps in the Soviet Union, where prisoners, including political detainees, were subjected to harsh conditions, hard labor, and widespread abuses. Anna Karetnikova, a former senior analyst at Russia’s Penitentiary Service, says today’s prison system has only seen limited reform since then and raises…

From DW Documentary. Nature often struggles in the concrete jungles of growing cities. But many animals manage to adapt to the new conditions, thanks to changes in behavior, new survival strategies and, sometimes, even genetic changes. The film shows how animals in urban areas live alongside humans, develop new skills and learn habits and behaviors…

From DW Documentary. A new "amnesty law" announced by Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez could lead to the release of hundreds of political prisoners. It also includes plans to shut down El Helicoide, one of the largest detention centers in the capital Caracas. For human rights activists like Edward Ocaríz, the announcement has been received…

From DW Documentary. With its booming economy, Vietnam is considered Asia’s next tiger economy. Since the communist government decided to replace Marxism with capitalism, the country has undergone a transformation. Vietnam has a growing number of millionaires, and signs of growth are everywhere. But this prosperity comes at a price: anyone who dares to criticize…

From DW Documentary. A filmmaker’s firsthand experience of the US attacks on Venezuela. Her country is at the center of geopolitics—but ordinary people are powerless. A view from Caracas, caught between hope and resignation. In December 2025, the death of her stepfather Nelson brought documentary filmmaker Anabel Rodríguez Ríos home to Venezuela, to mourn with…

From DW Documentary. Alexis Goertz searches for food on the roadside and in city parks. Alexis is Canadian and has lived in Berlin for over ten years. She turns walks through the city into a search for edible plants. 🏙️🌾 From mullein, acorn flour and wild garlic to fermented spreads and sourdough bread, Alexis shows…

From DW Documentary. After the authoritarian regime fell in 2024, Bangladesh is facing an important social and political decision. Which direction will it take? It was an uprising that made international waves: In August 2024, Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian government fell after massive Gen Z protests swept across Bangladesh. It was the end of an era…

From DW Documentary. Here, death is ever-present. In hospices, carers and volunteers provide end-of-life support to people who are seriously ill and dying. Their goal is for people to be able to experiences their final weeks and days with dignity, as free from fear as possible. Paul Buchholz has been working at a hospice in…

From DW Documentary. Phyo Zeya Thaw was a prominent opponent of the military dictatorship in Myanmar. A voice for freedom that was silenced. In July 2022, Zeya Thaw was executed. And the military junta continues to oppress the people of Myanmar. 41-year-old Phyo Zeya Thaw is a star in the Southeast Asian country. He was…

From DW Documentary. Turkey’s Sea of Marmara is facing a hidden threat, a kind of slime known as “sea snot”. It is the smallest sea in the world, and is located between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, working as a major transit hub. In 2021, the slime covered most of the sea’s surface. This…

From DW Documentary. What impact does good muscle tone have on our health? Studies show that muscle training can slow down the ageing process, prevent metabolic disorders and even inhibit cancer cells. The muscular system is the largest system in our body, accounting for around 30 to 40 percent of our body weight. Healthy and…

From DW Documentary. More than ever, digital platforms are being used for manipulation and blackmail. This documentary goes behind the scenes of a cruel online world, and shows just how close the danger is. When an opportunity for love or big money beckons online, it can be hard to say no — or even question…

From DW Documentary. Could underwater farms be a sustainable alternative to traditional agriculture? 🌊🌱 Nemo’s Garden started in 2012. Since then, all kinds of herbs, fruits, vegetables and even mushrooms have been grown there.🍄‍🟫 The underwater domes provide plants with a safe and stable environment – constant light and no pests or no significant changes…

From DW Documentary. The Amish still live as they did in the 17th century: without electricity, phones or cars. While many continue to resist the temptations of the modern world, others are breaking away from the group. For the Amish community in the USA, only the word of the Lord counts. They follow biblical principles…

From DW Documentary. Aboard the research vessel Meteor, scientists venture into the vast Atlantic. Five weeks in tight quarters push the team beyond its limits. Their mission: to study unknown species and habitats at the bottom of the sea. It’s 3 a.m. in the middle of the Atlantic, and Meteor is surrounded by darkness. But…

From DW Documentary. Reporting on the ground in wars and conflicts presents a great risk to the lives of journalists and media workers. According to a UNESCO report, 186 journalists have been killed while covering war and conflicts between 2022-2025 – a 67% increase compared to the previous period. Why do war reporters on the…

From DW Documentary. Anil Jadhav is an Indian farmer. He had always dreamed of having a large family. But as droughts in his homeland increase, his income — and marriage prospects — are dwindling. While the ecological and economic impacts of climate change are frequently reported on, the social aspects often remain in the shadows.…

From DW Documentary. The Neretva in Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of Europe’s last wild rivers. Its unique ecosystem is threatened with destruction. Despite objections, politicians and entrepreneurs are allowing hydroelectric power plants to be built here. But resistance to the plans remains strong. Over the past millennia, the Neretva has developed into a globally…