From DW Documentary. A technical masterpiece — and a big responsibility. The Kiel Canal in Germany is the busiest artificial waterway in the world. But keeping it operational is expensive. The infrastructure of the Kiel Canal is a much-discussed topic. As is the case in Germany with roads, bridges and railway tracks, cost-cutting measures are…

From DW Documentary. In hospices, caregivers and volunteers support patients who are seriously ill and dying. They focus on quality of life and dignity in those final stages, providing a peaceful environment where people can face their last days with grace and as little fear as possible. What are the stories behind hospices? #documentary #dwdocumentary…

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…

From DW Documentary. Dori Laub pioneered a radical form of listening. The psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor began recording the stories of other survivors in the late 1970s. This is a film about the power of listening. When Dori Laub began recording the stories of other survivors in the late 1970s, he was preserving memory. But…

From DW Documentary. Cities, floating on the ocean. It sounds like science fiction, but could soon become reality. Researchers are developing concepts for life on water – on a grand scale. Initial tests are promising. Is success a genuine possibility? Over half of humanity lives near the coast. But in many places, flooding is a…

From DW Documentary. When the sun goes down, India’s megacity most intense side comes to light. Queer subculture, everyday slum life and spiritual celebrity culture – Mumbai nightlife could hardly be more diverse. Anything is possible, here! Mumbai: India’s financial, commercial and entertainment center. This is the New York of South Asia, according to many…

From DW Documentary. Greenland should become part of the United States — at least, that’s the opinion of US President Donald Trump. Talk of the US acquiring, or perhaps even seizing, the world’s largest island with its vast mineral wealth has been causing concern not only among Greenlanders. Denmark is outraged, as Greenland — a…

From DW Documentary. More and more city dwellers are collecting food in the asphalt jungle. They harvest herbs by the roadside and grow wild vegetables in cracks in the concrete. For these modern foragers and hunters, the food is free, tasty and more varied than in the supermarket. Christian Amys is an urban foraging professional.…

From DW Documentary. The Mediterranean diet is known around the world for its health benefits and was acknowledged as an intangible cultural heritage in 2010 by UNESCO. This diet consists mainly of plant-based ingredients like vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and fruits with a moderate amount of fish and dairy products. The food we eat has…

From DW Documentary. In the summer of 2014, fields and coal mines in eastern Ukraine became a crime scene. The wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was scattered across 12 square kilometers. Evidence of a war crime that remains unpunished to this day. On July 17, 2014, the Malaysian Boeing 777 with flight number MH17…

From DW Documentary. In June 2024, Joanna lost her 20-year-old son Philippos. He was beaten up by another young man, following his sister’s high school graduation party. Two days later, he died. The alleged perpetrator, a 19-year-old Syrian, was arrested. A summer evening that ended in disaster. After his sister’s high school graduation party, 20-year-old…

From DW Documentary. Filmed in secret, this documentary is a behind-the-scenes look at the "Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising in Iran. The story begins a few weeks after the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish student who died on 16 September 2022. She had allowed a few strands of hair to escape from her…

From DW Documentary. Carsten Breuer is Inspector General of the German Armed Forces, and thus the highest-ranking soldier in Germany. He says that Russia will be ready for a military conflict with the West in just a few years. The documentary follows Carsten Breuer on camera for nine months. Filmmakers accompany him to a meeting…

From DW Documentary. A full, glossy head of hair is often linked with beauty, youth and vitality in advertising and society. But what happens when that hair loses its shine? As we age, our hair gets thinner, alters its structure or falls out. What can be done to address these changes and is it worth…

From DW Documentary. The Matterhorn is one of the world’s most famous mountains — and amongst the deadliest. Since it was first ascended in 1865, over 600 climbers have lost their lives on the peak. Despite modern infrastructure and global awareness of the risks, tragedy strikes the Matterhorn again and again. This film asks why…

From DW Documentary. H.G. Wells redefined science fiction. "The War of the Worlds” was the first story about an invasion by aliens that simultaneously managed to raise questions about human progress, immortalize Martians, and inspire countless adaptations. H. G. Wells made his mark on the science fiction genre with "The War of the Worlds.” In…

From DW Documentary. Arseny Turbin is one the youngest political prisoners in Russia. He was arrested in 2023, when he was just 14 years old. His crime, at such a young age? He criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, in the classroom, on his YouTube channel, and in conversations with friends. His teachers reported him to…

From DW Documentary. To this day, the USA has a hand in almost all the crises affecting Latin America. Colombia, for example, sank into chaos in the 1990s. The cartels took over the country. People fled to the United States. Today, President Trump exploits this situation, using it to boost his popularity. In Venezuela, Hugo…

From DW Documentary. Nearly all of Latin America’s crises have been shaped by the United States. In the 1980s, the US supported anti-communist forces in Nicaragua and the controversial strongman Manuel Noriega in Panama. In the early 1980s, Panama avoided a civil war, but a shadowy figure came to power: Manuel Noriega, a long-time CIA…

From DW Documentary. Almost all Latin American crises of the 1960s and 1970s were influenced by the USA. Whether it was Brazil’s dictatorship, the coup in Chile or the Cuban Missile Crisis – at some level, American politics were involved. Brazil’s first "national security" dictatorship was established in 1964 with the support of the United…

From DW Documentary. Almost all Latin American crises of the 1960s and 1970s were influenced by the USA. Whether it was Brazil’s dictatorship, the coup in Chile or the Cuban Missile Crisis – at some level, American politics were involved. Brazil’s first "national security" dictatorship was established in 1964 with the support of the United…

From DW Documentary. In the Azores, an autonomous region in Portugal, tuna fishing is done the way it has been for generations: one fisherman, one rod, one fish at a time. Nets are banned. Every catch is monitored and recorded. But despite their efforts to keep fishing as selective and sustainable as possible, the Azores…

From DW Documentary. Turkey’s Sea of Marmara is on the brink of environmental collapse. Pollution, overfishing and climate change are depleting its oxygen. The crisis became visible when a thick layer of algal slime first began spreading across its waters in 2021. Necla Köseoğlu, from Rumelikavağı, is one of the last people still working in…

From DW Documentary. Are empathy, attachment, and even alienation taught in early childhood? How do compassion and social skills develop? Documenting a year in the life of two kindergartners, this film shows how formative early interpersonal experiences can be. Haakon and Balder, two Norwegian boys, discover the world together in kindergarten. Director Gunhild Westhagen Magnor…

From DW Documentary. If you’re a woman, chances are you have dealt with some form of sexual harassment: Studies show most woman have at some point in their lives. Public Sexual Harassment (PSH) is a form of gender-based violence. Any young person, including young men and boys, can experience it, but current research suggests that…

From DW Documentary. More donor organs are needed, but too few are available. Could the future of transplant medicine be found in the laboratory? Doctors and scientists around the world are researching ways to produce organs artificially. The shortage of donor organs is one of the most pressing problems in medicine. Waiting lists are long,…

From DW Documentary. Palantir is considered one of the most opaque companies in the field of big data. The group’s software is used by government agencies and intelligence services worldwide. This film takes a look behind the scenes — at the tech company, and its CEO, Alex Karp. Alongside Elon Musk, Peter Thiel and Sam…

From DW Documentary. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, is the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia. For almost a decade, he has been radically transforming the country — at a breathtaking pace. Where is the modernizer and despot steering the kingdom? Saudi Arabia is the world’s leading exporter of crude oil.…

From DW Documentary. The Inca city of Machu Picchu in Peru has been uninhabited for centuries, yet it remains remarkably well preserved. The Spanish conquered Peru in the 16th century, but Machu Picchu was never found by them and was only introduced to the outside world in the early 20th century. Today, it attracts around…

From DW Documentary. What we eat affects our weight, our health and our lifespan. Traditional Mediterranean cuisine is considered particularly healthy, and is even said to prevent heart disease, cancer, and the aging process of the brain. It has long been known that our diet has a decisive influence on our health. Mediterranean cuisine is…

From DW Documentary. High in the Himalayas lies the former Kingdom of Mustang. This remote region is home to centuries‑old monasteries and temples — the bedrock of a unique Tibetan culture on Nepalese soil. But the harsh climate has taken a heavy toll on these sacred sites and the unique culture they sustain. Only the…

From DW Documentary. The documentary delves into ultra-orthodox Jewish society, as men and women talk about their wedding nights. Near strangers suddenly have to share physical intimacy — without knowing what it is, or how it is supposed to work. The director, herself an ultra-orthodox Jewish woman, masterfully combines frank interviews with archival material and…

From DW Documentary. The final service is over, and the doors close behind the faithful. More and more Catholic and Protestant churches are being abandoned in Germany. Church buildings are being closed, demolished, or converted for secular use. It’s a reflection of developments within the churches, one that predates the abuse scandals. There is a…